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Biomedical subjects

G Arroyave

Publications and source records attributed to G Arroyave.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Vitamin A deficiency and anemia in Central American children.

In order to investigate the role of vitamin A nutriture in the prevalence of anemia in Central America, a retrospective evaluation of the data of the six Institute of Nutrition of Central Americal and Panama/Office for International Research nutrition surveys of Central America and Panama has been made. Three groups of children; 1 to 4, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12 years old, living between 0 and 2,5000 feet above sea level were studeid. Several biochemical and dietary parameters related to anemia were corrleated with plasma levels of retinol. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 years showed a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and plasma retinol. Children aged 1 to 4 years did not show a similar correlation. In children of all age groups there were positive correlations between plasma retinol and serum iron. Percent saturation of transferrin was also found to be lower when plasma retinol levels were low. Children with an adequate intake of iron, as classified by both dietary information and socioeconomic level, showed a significant positive correlation between plasma retinol levels and iron in their serum. In contrast, no correlation was found when dietary iron was low. In the light of these findings, a possible relationship between vitamin A deficiency and anemia is suggested.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

The nutrition problem in Latin America: definition, causes, and remedial actions.

Clinical, dietary, and biochemical surveys have shown that on the whole Latin America faces a serious nutrition problem. This article reviews the nature and extent of that problem, especially its effects on maternal and child health, and suggests various approaches for researchers, health professionals, and political authorities that would contribute to its resolution.

Child↗
PubMed1976

[Socioeconomic level of the family and nutrition in the rural area of Central America and Panama].

During the nutrition survey carried out in Central America and Panama in 1965-1967, information was obtained on the diets and nutrient intake of the rural populations, and on their anthropometric and nutritional-biochemical characteristics. Simultaneously, data were collected for each family studied, which permitted their categorization according to a scale of socioeconomic index. The findings of these studies demonstrate a direct relationship between the socioeconomic level of the families and their dietary and nutritional characteristics. The different types of data, that is, dietary, biochemical, anthropometric and socioeconomic, were all collected at the same time in order to avoid seasonal differences as a confounding factor. Restriction of the sample studied to the rural area of the six countries makes each population rather homogeneous with respect to environmental, genetic and cultural characteristics. Under these conditions, the direct association found between the socioeconomic index of the families and nutritional status acquires more meaning. The design of the study does not permit to determine the direction of a cause-effect relationship, that is, which is the cause of the other. Nevertheless, the findings lend themselves to interesting speculation in this regard.

Central America↗
PubMed1976

Studies in Central America and Panama.

Nutrition during pregnancy is recognized as of great importance in public health, not only for the woman herself, but also for the impact that it may have on the present and future of the born child. The pregnant state represents additional nutritional needs which have been estimated by expert groups, in a nutrient-independent manner. The percent increase in nutrient specific recommendations due to pregnancy varies with each nutrient. This would mean that the recommended dietary "pattern" for the pregnant women differs markedly from that of the non-pregnant woman, but this matter needs further study and careful consideration. In areas like Central America and Panama, where malnutrition is prevalent, pregnant women suffer from the same nutritional deficits as the general population. The main nutritional deficits are calories, protein, vitamin A, riboflavin, iron and folates. In some instances like in the case of iron and calories, the deficit seems greater in the pregnant women than in the population at large. The studies give evidence that the new born children of malnourished mothers reflect in some aspects the biochemical changes found in the pregnant women.

Central America↗
PubMed1975

[Review of the calory and protein content of the diets of low socioeconomic levels in Central America. Is there a protein problem?].

The present study constitutes an analysis of the diets of children of low socioeconomic level in the rural area of two Central American countries to specifically determine whether these typical diets are deficient in their content of biologically utilizable protein. The study confirmed that the calorie deficit is of a greater magnitude than that of protein. The estimates of NDpCal%, that is, of the biologically utilizable protein expressed as percent of the total calories, allow to conclude that when these diets, bases predominantly on a combination of a cereal and a legume seed, are consumed in sufficient amounts to meet calorie requirements, there is no protein problem. It is proposed that the approaches to improve the calorie-protein nutritional status be based on previous analysis similar to the one undertaken in the present work. The costly supplementation of diets with "protein-rich" foods or the adoption of similar measures, are not justified except when diets have an unduly low NDpCal%. In the case of the populations studied, the recommended action is to increase the consumption of the existing diets as such, or even a predominantly calorie supplementation when their NDpCal% is higher than needed. These last measures would seem more feasible and less costly. The fact that the increased losses of nutrients due to infection cannot be compensated solely with protein is also stressed.

Central America↗