Nutritional, biochemical, and other studies on South African populations

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An African perspective on nutrition and ageing

Although the proportion of elderly in African populations is much smaller than that in white populations, it is increasing. Since the huge majority of Africans are in poor economic circumstances, questions arise as to how well they manage, particularly regarding their eating habits and nutritional state. On the one hand the limited information available indicates major shortfalls from international dietary recommended allowances of nutrients. Yet, outwardly, elderly Africans appear to manage better than would be expected. Unfortunately, no cross-sectional nor prospective studies in this area have been undertaken on representative groups of African elderly. In view of the increasing poverty of the populations of most African countries, it would be of value to learn from nutritional and clinical studies, of minimum food intakes which are still consistent with everyday good health

Atherosclerosis and nutrition with special reference to populations in Africa

Severe atherosclerosis and its sequelae-coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease-share major responsibility for half the mortality rate in affluent Western populations. In Africa, particularly South Africa, a study of the extent and severity of lesions is particularly interesting because of the different population groups in various stages of transition. In the most primitive populations, evidence shows that lesions are sufficiently mild to be of little or no clinical significance. Among prosperous populations, the conclusion is reached that unless dietary and other changes (relevant to risk factors) are introduced in youth, such changes implemented in later life are unlikely to accomplish much by way of reducing or delaying mortality from atherosclerotic diseases.S Afr. Med. J., 48, 481 (1974)

Can expectation of life in western populations be increased by changes in diet and manner of life? Part II

No Abstract

Studies on Sugar intake and overweight in South African black and white schoolchildren

In primitive and emerging populations in rural areas, adults gain little or even no weight with age. In emerging populations in urban areas, also Western populations, adults gain considerable weight with age. Among children of all ethnic groups, it is usual for them to grow faster with rising socio-economic circumstances. Associated with these changes, the most conspicuous alterations in manner of life concern diet and physical activity. Whether it be Western populations during the last century, or present emerging populations in towns, the pattern of. pietary changes is the same, and includes marked increases in the consumption of fat and sugar. The accompanying decrease in everyday physical activity requires no enlargement. In view of increases in prevalences of overweight and obesity in children and adults, many regard the progressive rise in the sugar consumption to be the primary responsible factor. To throw light on the problem, height, weight, and daily sugar intake have been determined on South African Black and White school pupils. Briefly, observations revealed that in each ethnic - sex group studied, mean height and weight data of the upper, compared with the lower, third, in respect of sugar intake, were closely similar. In corresponding studies on two ethnic groups of adults, preliminary results lead to the same conclusions. Accordingly, our observations suggest that in the circumstances described, a high 'compared with a much lower intake of sugar does not promote overweight.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1650 (1974

Crude fibre, bowel motility and pattern of diet

No Abstract

Old people - should they be eating generously, frugally or what?

The ageing of populations, associated with diminishing family size and increasing longevity, is evoking far-reaching effects on health and other services. especially in Western countries. Influencing factors in ageing include not only diet but factors such as physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. There is evidence that a large proportion of morbidity in ageing is due to life-style factors. As far as diet is concerned. the question, should old people be encouraged to eat more. eat frugally, or what, largely depends on the population concerned. In prosperous countries, old people largely have enough to eat. It has been urged that their nutritional status could be improved, not so much by specific supplementation but rather by an increase in vegetable and fruit intake, with a concurrent decrease in the amount of fat consumed. The same recommendation would apply to non-Westernized elderly populations. However an adequate consumption of vegetables and fruit is often limited by cost. Databases on the minimum ranges of nutrient requirements that are consistent with good health in older populations in South Africa are required

Editorial: A frightening situation? Youth in the USA today

No Abstrac

Investigations on the consumption of sugar by South African populations

By means of questionnaires, appropriate for both individuals and households, surveys of sugar intake have been carried out in the Transvaal on groups of South African Whites, Indians, Malays, Coloureds, and Bantu. Inquiries concerned groups in urban and rural areas, and in different socio-economic circumstances. In Whites the consumptions per capita resemble data published in the United Kingdom. Mean intakes, in round figures, range from 80 to 100 g per day for those in the higher socio-economic groups, to 120 - 140 g for those in lower-income groups. For Indians the mean consumptions, 70 - 90 g, are less than the intakes of Whites, and slightly less than the limited data on Coloureds and Malays. The Coloureds and Malays were not extensively investigated; the mean intakes of about 90 g are lower than those of Whites in similar economic circumstances. Among the rural groups of Bantu studied, mean intakes range from 65 to 75 g per day, while in urban areas ranges are greater, 55 - 85 g per day. Miscellaneous findings were that males consume more sugar than females; intake rises with age, but falls off in late middle-age; intake falls with increase in family size; and among Whites, intake tends to decrease with rise in privilege (this change is not yet apparent in non-White groups). In the future, sugar intake will certainly increase in the non-White populations, particularly the Bantu

Changes in total death rate and in ischaemic heart disease death rate in interethnic South African populations, 1978 - 1989

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in prosperous Western populations rose markedly in the 1940s, peaked between 1970 and 1975 and then fell variably - by about 50% in the USA and Australia. Undoubtedly, decreases in serum cholesterol levels, in the incidence of hypertension and in smoking frequencies are largely responsible. In South Africa, in all population groups other than blacks, IHD rates rose analogously, with Asians and whites attaining very high rates. However, from 1978 to 1989, the total death rate among white males (per 100 000 world population) fell from 1 002 to 631 (37%), and the IHD mortality rate from 312 to 139 (56%). Rates for Asians were 1 306 - 1 130 (14%) and 355 - 226 (36%), respectively, and for coloureds 1 691 to 1 392 (18%) and 171 to 110 (36%). For blacks, the total mortality rate remained unchanged; IHD rates were low, but these data are unreliable. Percentage falls in the IHD rate exceed those in the total death rate, especially among whites, indicating true decreases in IHD rate. Understandably, the accuracy of the data, as with such data overseas, is questionable. Local falls are none the less in line with those noted in Western countries. Rates for whites remain very high, and are even higher for Asians. While knowledge of the reasons for the rises and falls in IHD rates reInains incomplete, whites have none the less taken some preventive action, although Asians and coloureds apparently little