The American journal of clinical nutrition
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A bivariate mathematical model termed the "HAT" model for defining body frame size is presented for young males and females (mean age 22 yr). The HAT model is based on the relationship between stature and the sum of the biacromial and bitrochanteric diameter measurements. ⋯ That is, lean body weight increased per frame size, while fat weight per frame size remained constant. For females in contrast, there was a small but statistically significant increase in fat weight per frame size and no increase in lean body weight per frame size.
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During lactation maternal losses of calcium and phosphorus through human milk average 220 to 340 and 110 to 170 mg/day, respectively. The present study reports maternal serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus during the first 6 months of lactation. Serum calcium and magnesium concentrations increased during the first 6 months of lactation. ⋯ During this same period, serum parathyroid hormone decreased slightly and serum calcitonin remained unchanged. Our data do not support the observation that lactation represents a state of physiological hyperparathyroidism. On the contrary, our results suggest that lactating women are able to adequately compensate for the losses of calcium and phosphorus during the early months of lactation, although increased serum 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D concentrations may be necessary to maintain calcium homeostasis with lactation beyond 6 months.
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During longitudinal field studies of the growth, dietary intake, and morbidity from infectious diseases of children between 6 and 60 months of age in two rural villages of Bangladesh, seasonal fluctuations in growth, nutritional status, and the prevalence of malnutrition were observed. The weight, length, arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness of 197 children were measured monthly for 15 months and compared with sex-specific local village norms and international reference populations. The percentages of expected weight for length, arm circumference for age, triceps skinfold thickness for age, and the percentages of expected monthly increments of weight and length for age were the indicators most sensitive to seasonal changes. ⋯ The periods of greatest nutritional deficit depended on which anthrometric indicator was used to define nutritional status, but generally occurred during the monsoon and persisted until the subsequent harvest period. However, the fall in mean percentage of expected length for age and the increase in the prevalence of stunting occurred several months after the periods of greatest malnutrition identified by the other measurements. The importance of selecting the appropriate anthropometric techniques to detect seasonal changes and the implications of such changes are discussed.
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Letter Comparative Study
Sweets, snacks, and dental caries: South African interracial patterns.
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The diagnostic usefulness in iron deficiency anemia of serum ferritin, red cell protoporphyrin (Epp), mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and transferrin saturation measurements has been studied in a population of 294 children aged 1 to 6 yr. Of the children studied 19% had hemoglobin below 11 g/dl. Iron deficiency, diagnosed by at least two abnormal independent laboratory parameters, was the cause of anemia in all except two cases. ⋯ Of anemic, iron deficient individuals 97 to 100% could be identified by low MCH, 88 to 100% by transferrin saturation, 66 to 83% by ferritin, and 61 to 74% by Epp. In contrast, only 0 to 6% of normal, nonanemic individuals had low MCH, 0 to 4% had high Epp, but 21 to 39% had low transferrin saturation and 25 to 39% had low ferritin. Although reduced serum ferritin in anemic individuals is good evidence of iron deficiency, a significant proportion of anemic iron-deficient patients is missed by this procedure rendering it less useful than other, less expensive laboratory methods.