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Biomedical subjects

S Hercberg

Publications and source records attributed to S Hercberg.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Serum trace elements in Zairian mothers and their newborns.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnant women in developing countries might be at risk of trace element deficiencies. These deficiencies could have deleterious effects on fetus. Therefore, serum trace elements were determined at delivery in Zairian mothers and their newborns. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Maternity ward of Kinshasa University Hospital (Zaire). SUBJECTS: 166 pregnant women admitted for delivery and their newborns. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Zinc, copper and selenium were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Haematocrit, lymphocyte count, transferrin, ferritin and anthropometric indices (birth weight, length, head and arm circumferences; mother weight) were also evaluated. RESULTS: Serum selenium concentrations were high [mothers: 0.76-1.56 mumol/l (60-124 micrograms/l), newborns: 0.45-1.21 mumol/l (36-96 micrograms/l)]; zinc concentrations were low [mothers: 3.9-11.9 mumol/l (253-773 micrograms/l), newborns: 5.8-17.4 mumol/l (378-1130 micrograms/l)] and copper concentrations were in the range of previous works [mothers: 16.2-49.0 mumol/l (1020-3088 micrograms/l), newborns: 0.7-14.3 mumol/l (44-900 micrograms/l)]. Mother serum indices, age, weight and parity had little influence on newborn serum trace elements. In umbilical serum, copper was correlated to selenium (r = 0.340, P < 0.01); selenium (r = 0.310, P < 0.001) and copper (r = 0.404, P < 0.001) were correlated to transferrin. Newborn selenium (r = 0.310, P < 0.001) and copper (r = 0.257, P < 0.01) concentrations were related to head circumference. Newborn selenium concentration varied according to birth weight [< 2500 g: 0.58-0.86 mumol/l (45-67 micrograms/l); > 2500 g: 0.48-1.20 mumol/l (37-94 micrograms/l). Umbilical serum copper concentration was related to birth length (r = 0.197, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that: (1) copper and selenium status at delivery in Zairian mothers are similar to those in developed countries, whereas zinc status is poor; (2) trace element and nutritional status in the mother and fetus are independent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between urinary iodine concentration and hearing capacity in children.

Urinary iodine excretion was assessed in 1222 healthy children aged 10 months (n = 456), 2 years (n = 368) and 4 years (n = 398) living in the Paris area and originating from continental France (55.2%), North Africa (15.7%), the West Indies (9.7%), West Africa (8.2%), Southeast Asia (5.5%), and southern Europe (5.7%). Iodine excretions (median values) were, respectively, 18.1, 13.4 and 11.6 micrograms/100 ml at 10 months, 2 years and 4 years, and risk of mild to moderate iodine deficiency (< 10 micrograms/100 ml) was 18.0%, 32.3% and 37.2% for the same age groups. Urinary iodine excretion was highest among Southeast Asian children, and lowest among West Africans. Hearing acuity was measured either by conventional mono-aural pure-tone audiometry or by binaural free field testing depending on the child's age. Hearing loss at 4000 Hz and average hearing impairment at speech frequencies (500, 1000 and 2000 Hz) were more severe among children at risk of mild to moderate iodine deficiency (less than 10 micrograms/100 ml) compared with those with urinary excretion above 10 micrograms/100 ml.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1993

[Prevention of mineral deficiencies (iron, calcium and magnesium)].

The calcium, magnesium and iron intakes provided by food must be sufficient to fulfil the physiological demands of each individual, to avoid the clinical manifestations of mineral deficiencies and to ensure an optimal state of health. For these reasons, it is desirable to ensure a sufficient calcium intake (notably by milk products) at all ages and particularly in children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 25 (and also in elderly people to prevent osteoporosis); to recommend the consumption of magnesium-rich foods, such a little sifted cereals and dry vegetables to ensure sufficient intakes; to prescribe pharmaceutical preparations on iron systematically in pregnant women and by repeated courses in infants aged 10 to 36 months (to avoid complications due to iron deficiency and notably its harmful influence on haematopoiesis). The consumption of "second age" milks for older children must also be encouraged. Finally, the consumption of foodstuffs with a high vitamin C content should be recommended as it increases the bioavailability of nutritional iron, and the consumption of substances, such as tea and coffee, which inhibit iron absorption must be reduced.

Calcium↗
PubMed1993

The immune response in iron-deficient young children: effect of iron supplementation on cell-mediated immunity.

The effects of iron deficiency on immunity remain controversial. This study was designed to assess the impact of iron supplementation on the immune status, in 81 children aged 6 months-3 years, at high risk for iron deficiency, using a longitudinal double blind randomised and placebo-controlled study. Lymphocytes of iron-deficient children produced less interleukin-2 in vitro. Iron supplementation for 2 months increased mean corpuscular volume, serum ferritin and serum transferrin, but had no effect on the parameters of T-cell mediated immunity. The lower interleukin-2 levels in iron-deficient suggest that cell-mediated immunity may be impaired in iron deficiency.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1993

Effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on trace element (Cu, Se, Zn) concentrations in serum and breast milk from Nigerian women.

Trace element concentrations in serum and breast milk were studied longitudinally in 197 Nigerian women from 6 months of gestation to 6 months postpartum; 99 of them received a daily iron supplement of 100 mg from 6 months of gestation to delivery. During the last 3 months of pregnancy, serum selenium declined, whereas serum zinc remained unchanged and serum copper increased. After delivery, copper concentration in maternal serum decreased, whereas serum zinc increased from delivery to 3 months postpartum and then reached a plateau. Serum selenium increased from delivery to 6 months postpartum. In breast milk, selenium and zinc decreased from 5 days to 6 months postpartum. Copper in breast milk also declined during the course of lactation but reached a plateau by 3 months postpartum. Iron concentration in breast milk remained unchanged during the study. Iron supplementation had no significant effect upon the concentrations of copper, selenium and zinc in mother serum and breast milk. In umbilical serum, iron status, copper and zinc levels were similar in the two groups, whereas, unexpectedly, selenium concentration was significantly decreased (p < 0.03) in the iron-supplemented group. Taken together, our results suggest that the beneficial effect of iron supplementation on iron deficiency was not associated with an adverse effect on copper and zinc status. On the other hand, our results suggest that Nigerian women had a marginal zinc status but an adequate selenium status.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Selenium determination in human milk in Niger: influence of maternal status.

Selenium (Se) was determined in human milk from women residing in Niamey (Niger) at different periods of lactation. To this purpose, a rapid electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric (EAAS) method using Zeeman background correction and palladium matrix modifier was developed. Linear range (10 nmol/L-6.25 mumol/L, 0.8-494 micrograms/L), within-run (7.6%), between-run (10.4%), precision and recovery of standard addition (101 +/- 7%) were sufficient to allow routine determination of Se in breast milk. Values of breast milk Se decreased from 5 days to 6 months postpartum. No significant correlation was found between the milk Se and any of the following parameters: mother serum Se, parity, age of the mother, age of the previous child. In mother serum, Se concentration increased from delivery to 3 months postpartum and remained stable afterwards. The Se concentrations found in breast milk and in mother serum suggest that Se status is adequate in Niger.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Nutritional anaemias.

Nutritional anaemia is recognized as a major public health problem throughout the world, especially in developing countries. Infants, young children, menstruating women and, in particular, pregnant women are most frequently affected. Sufficient evidence suggests that iron deficiency is the most common cause of nutritional anaemia in the world. Folate deficiency is considered as the second most common cause. In this chapter we discuss the factors determining nutritional inadequacy in iron and folate requirements versus iron and folate intake, particularly in different age/sex categories; the amounts of iron and folate involved in daily exchange and the role of the diet and physiological and pathological variations in losses and requirements are reviewed. The consequences in terms of health of iron and folate deficiencies and methods for assessing iron and folate status of populations are also presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Consequences of Schistosoma haematobium infection on the iron status of schoolchildren in Niger.

The relationship between iron status and degree of infection by Schistosoma haematobium was studied in 174 schoolchildren from Niger in an area endemic for urinary schistosomiasis. Iron deficiency was defined by a combination of three reliable indicators: a low serum ferritin level combined with a low transferrin saturation, a high erythrocyte protoporphyrin level, or both. Hematuria and proteinuria were found in 76.4% and 79.9% of the children, respectively, while 95.4% excreted eggs (geometric mean egg count of 31.5 eggs per 10 ml of urine). Anemia was observed in 59.7% of the subjects. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 47.1%. Anemia was associated with iron deficiency in 57.7% of the cases. The hemoglobin level and transferrin saturation decreased significantly when the degree of hematuria increased, while prevalence of anemia and prevalence of iron deficiency increased significantly. The hemoglobin level and the hematocrit were negatively correlated with egg count, while prevalence of anemia increased with increasing egg count. This inverse relationship between degree of infection by S. haematobium and iron status shows a deleterious consequence of urinary schistosomiasis on nutrition and hematopoietic status, which should be considered in the design of nutrition intervention programs.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1991

Effect of folic acid deficiency upon lymphocyte subsets from lymphoid organs in mice.

1. Three groups of weanling C57BL/6 female mice were fed one of two folate-deficient diets (0 and 0.1 mg folic acid/kg diet) or a normal folate-containing diet (2 mg folic acid/kg diet) for 8 weeks. A control pair-fed group was introduced with the most severe folate-deficient diet. Seven mice were fed the 0 mg folic acid/kg diet for 8 weeks, then rehabilitated (R) on the 2 mg folic acid/kg diet for 10 days. 2. Mice fed 0 mg folic acid/kg diet were severely folate-deficient (SFD), whereas mice fed 0.1 mg folic acid/kg diet were moderately folate-deficient (MFD), as shown by their folate status parameters. 3. Thymus weight, thymocyte content and positive immature CD4+8+ cells were decreased in SFD mice compared to controls. These values were normalized after 10 days of rehabilitation. 4. Mesenteric lymph node cells were apparently not affected by folate deficiency. 5. The proportion of Thy-1+ splenocytes was mildly lower in SFD mice than in controls. In R mice, mean spleen weight and spleen cellularity were increased compared to the other groups, but the proportions of Thy-1+, CD4+8- and CD4-8+ cells were markedly lower than control values.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Lymphocyte subpopulations in the thymus, lymph nodes and spleen of iron-deficient and rehabilitated mice.

Three groups of weanling female mice were fed one of two iron-deficient diets (5 and 12 mg Fe/kg diet) or a normal diet (30 mg Fe/kg diet) for 6 wk. A control pair-fed group was included. Seven mice received the 5 mg Fe/kg diet for 6 wk, then were rehabilitated using the 30 mg Fe/kg diet for 10 d. Mice fed the 5 mg Fe/kg diet were moderately iron-deficient, as shown by indices of iron status. No significant differences were observed in thymus weight or in the proportion and number of thymocyte subsets in thymuses of anemic, moderately iron-deficient and control mice. Thymus weight was decreased in pair-fed mice. No significant difference was found in lymph node subsets. In the spleen of anemic mice, the proportions and total number of Thy-1+ splenocytes, CD4-8+ and CD4+8- cells were very low compared with control (P less than 0.01) and iron-deficient (P less than 0.02) mice. The decrease was not only observed for the percentage of subsets but also for the absolute number of cell subtypes per spleen. Thy-1+ splenocyte subpopulations were normalized after rehabilitation. These quantitative modifications could explain alterations in the blastogenic response of splenic lymphocytes described by other authors.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Iron and folate status in Zairian mothers and their newborns.

An evaluation of iron and folate status was carried out on 166 Zairian pregnant women from Kinshasa at delivery and in cord blood from their newborns. Anemia, defined as a low hematocrit value (less than 33%), was observed in 38% of pregnant women. Iron deficiency, recognized by a combination of abnormal values for serum ferritin level (less than or equal to 12 micrograms/l) and transferrin saturation (less than 16%) was present in 54% of pregnant women. Folate deficiency, defined by a red blood cell folate of less than 100 micrograms/l, was observed in 6% of cases. In anemic mothers, anemia was associated with iron deficiency in 57% of cases and with folate deficiency in 5%. Correlations between maternal and newborn iron and folate indicators were found. This study points out the necessity for developing strategies in African countries to combat nutritional anemias during pregnancy by specific measures combined with general strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Effects of the increasing consumption of dairy products upon iron absorption.

The effect of the increasing consumption of dairy products upon the iron absorption was tested in vivo on volunteers using the extrinsic tag method (with 55 Fe and 59 Fe). The total iron absorption coefficient of a typical French meal and of the same meal after addition of a glass of low-fat skimmed milk or plain yoghurt was measured. Non-heme iron absorption was 2.2% for the standard meal alone, 2.0% with the yogurt and 2.1% with the glass of milk. Total iron absorption (i.e. measured non-heme iron absorption plus estimated heme iron absorption) for the three meals was, respectively, 9.7%, 9.5% and 9.4%. These results suggest that, under real-life conditions, increasing the amount of dairy products probably has no effect upon iron absorption in meals containing appreciable amounts of dairy products.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Iron status in Nigerian mothers and their newborns.

An evaluation of iron status was carried out on 364 Nigerian pregnant women from Niamey at delivery and in cord blood from their newborns. Anemia, defined as a low hematocrit value, was observed in 46% of pregnant women. Iron deficiency, recognized by a combination of, at least, 2 abnormal values in the 3 independent indicators measured (serum ferritin level, erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration and transferrin saturation) was present in 47.8% of pregnant women. Anemia was associated with iron deficiency in 60.1% of cases in anemic mothers. A correlation between maternal and newborn iron indicators was found. This study points out the necessity for developing strategies in Sahelian countries to combat iron deficiency during pregnancy by specific measures in combination with more general interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[The value of erythrocytic protoporphyrin measurement for screening blood donors for iron deficiency: a decision analysis].

Blood donors are considered as a group with increased risk of iron deficiency. Therefore it seems particularly useful to have a simple screening test at one's disposal in blood centers to detect easily early iron deficiency. Erythrocyte protoporphyrin assay on an hematofluorometer is very easy and of a low cost. So we studied its diagnostic value on a sample of 285 blood donors (131 men and 154 women). Prevalence of iron deficiency, defined by the coexistence of, at least, two abnormal indicators (serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, mean corpuscular volume), was 5.6% in this sample; sensitivity of erythrocyte protoporphyrin used alone was 75% and its specificity was 91.5%. We used a decision analysis to evaluate the opportunity of screening with this test, accompanied where indicated by iron supplements. The results, though preliminary, suggest that erythrocyte protoporphyrin measurement could be of interest in screening blood donors for iron deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Folate status and the immune system.

Folic acid plays a crucial role in DNA and protein synthesis, suggesting that every mechanism in which cell proliferation intervenes may be altered. Cell-mediated immunity is especially affected by folate deficiency: the blastogenic response of T lymphocytes to certain mitogens is decreased in folate-deficient humans and animals, and the thymus is preferentially altered. The effects of folic acid deficiency upon humoral immunity have been more thoroughly investigated in animals than in humans, and the antibody responses to several antigens have been shown to decrease. Conversely, the phagocytic and bactericidal capacities of polymorphonuclear cells have been studied mainly in folate-deficient humans. However results in this field are controversial. Alterations in immune system functions could lead to decreased resistance to infections, as commonly observed in folate-deficient humans and animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Dietary intake of a representative sample of the population of Val-de-Marne: I. Contribution of diet to energy supply].

Dietary intakes and its nutritional value were assessed during a nutritional survey performed in a population living in a district in the Paris area (Val-de-Marne). Data were obtained from 1108 subjects, aged 6 months to 97 years, randomly selected from the telephone directories of 12 of 47 towns and cities in the district. Dietary intake was evaluated in individual home interviews conducted by specialized dietitians, using the dietary history method. Age appears to be an important determining factor in variations in nutritional intake. Large differences exist between men and women for most types of food consumption. But the relative contribution of the main groups of food groups to the structure of energy intake is very similar in both sexes and virtually constant in the different age groups after the age of 6.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Dietary intake in a representative sample of the population of Val-de Marne: II. Supply of macronutrients].

This paper describes an assessment of the nutritional value (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) of food intake studied in a population residing in the Val-de-Marne district of the Paris region. Data were collected from 1,108 subjects, aged 6 months to 97 years, randomly selected from the public telephone directories of 12 of the 47 towns and cities in the district. Dietary intake was evaluated from individual home interviews by specialized dietitians, using the dietary history method. Age was shown to be a major determinant of macro nutrient intake (expressed in absolute value) in both sexes. The amount of food consumed differed between men and women. Expressed as a relative value of energy intake (after exclusion of alcohol-related calories), the proportion of different macronutrients was similar in all age groups, for both sexes, and was not in agreement with recommended dietary allowances: too high levels of fats and insufficient levels of carbohydrates, especially starch.

Adolescent↗