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Results for “FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY”

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PubMed2002

[Prevalence and etiology of anemia in an institutionalized geriatric population].

OBJECTIVE: Anemia is a common problem in the elderly, but its etiology in this age group is not well known, nor is its correlation with the mental and functional states. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of anemia in a large institutionalized geriatric population, to diagnose the etiology, and to analyze the correlation of anemia with the nutritional, mental and functional status. METHODS: The study was performed in a 970 bed multilevel geriatric complex, from which 481 residents were randomly chosen. Their mean age was 81.4 +/- 8.7 years, and 46 of these residents were independent, 162 frail, and 273 nursing home patients. RESULTS: High prevalence of anemia (31.4%) was found, but, in more than half of the cases, the anemia was mild. The most common diagnosis was anemia of chronic disorders (65.6%), followed by anemia of chronic renal failure (13.2%). Anemia primarily due to iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency was found to be only 4%. In 15.9% of these cases the main cause of anemia could not be resolved. No correlation with the nutritional or cognitive states was found, but the functional state was highly and significantly inversely correlated with the presence of anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia in institutionalized elderly is mostly the consequence of other chronic diseases. Further studies are required to determine whether a low functional state is an independent risk factor for anemia in old age.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Altered expression of retrovirus-like sequences and cellular oncogenes in mice fed methyl-deficient diets.

Methyl-deficient (lipotrope-deficient) diets enhance liver carcinogenesis in rodents. Although the mechanisms responsible for the cancer-promoting activity of such diets have not been identified, they have been observed to cause impaired immune response, alterations in methylation of liver RNA and DNA, and enhanced susceptibility to oxidative damage. Since alterations in gene expression may also play a critical role, the present studies examined the expression of the c-myc, c-H-ras, epidermal growth factor receptor, and ornithine decarboxylase genes, as well as endogenous retrovirus-like sequences, in C57BL/6J x C3H/HeJ F1 mouse liver during the first 2 weeks of feeding of a methyl-deficient diet. The kinetics of liver cell proliferation was investigated in parallel. Increased [3H]thymidine incorporation into liver DNA was found at day 4 and reached a maximum at days 7-11 after commencement of the methyl-deficient diet, when compared to age-matched mice fed a complete diet. Northern blot analysis of polyadenylated liver RNA samples indicated an increase in the levels of RNA homologous to Moloney murine leukemia virus and intracisternal A particle sequences but no significant change in the level of VL30 retrovirus-related RNA in the samples from mice fed methyl-deficient diets. A marked increase in the levels of c-myc and a slight increase in the levels of ornithine decarboxylase and c-H-ras transcripts were seen in the liver RNA samples from the treated mice. Of particular interest was a decrease in the abundance of epidermal growth factor receptor transcripts in the liver RNA samples from the treated mice. These changes in cellular levels of specific RNA resemble, in several respects, those we have previously described in rodent liver during regeneration and tumor promotion and also those seen in rodent hepatomas. They may reflect, therefore, a common profile of gene expression relevant to cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[The nutritional and health status of the Latin American woman].

Latin America is a region where countries have various levels of socioeconomic development. Thus, the living standards and health status of its people differ significantly in the midst of a mosaic of social, ethnic, cultural and economic realities. Social inequalities and extreme poverty determine significant differences, not only in the magnitude of health indicators, but also in the type of pathology prevalent. People in the high socioeconomic levels are affected by nutritional diseases characterized by excessive food intake, while people from the low socioeconomic levels are affected by undernutrition and its associated pathology. Undernutrition occurs fundamentally among the age groups at higher risk in the population segments with low income, low food intake, illiteracy and poor access to the health care and preventive medicine centers. Among families exposed to undernutrition, women are usually in worse condition than men. This is due to the long working hours and the increased nutritional requirements caused by frequent gestations and prolonged lactation. It is estimated that one fourth of newborns in Latin America are affected by low birth weight, which has been associated to adolescent mothers, their excessive physical work, anemia, low maternal pregestational weight, low weight gain during gestation, and frequent maternal infections. Nutritional anemia due to iron deficiency is highly prevalent among pregnant women in Latin America. In some countries, the prevalence of folate deficiency during pregnancy appears to have increased significantly in the past 15 years and is becoming a nutritional problem that needs preferential attention. Diets generally are inadequate and, in the case of pregnant and lactating women, usually deficient in calories, protein, iron and folic acid. It is urgent that the health and nutritional status of Latin American women of low socioeconomic condition be given special attention, particularly mothers during gestation and lactation. Otherwise, women will not be able to altogether fulfill their important role in the home and within the family, nor will they successfully participate in the economic development of their countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Anemias.

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Adult↗
PubMed1981

Nutritional anaemias. Part 1: Tropical Africa.

A review of nutritional anaemia in Africa is presented above. It has been noted that nutritional anaemia, including iron-deficiency anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia due to folate deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency, or both, and protein deficiency-anaemia, is widespread throughout Africa. It is particularly common in growing children, women of child-bearing age, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The anaemia is also especially common during the second half of the dry season and the first half of the wet season, when food supplies are limited. In all cases the anaemia is caused either by limited dietary intake, excessive loss of nutrients or excessive utilization. The anaemia is associated with a number of sequelae including both structural changes, like mitochondrial swelling and mucosal atrophy, and functional abnormalities, such as cardiac failure, decreased work output, increased pregnancy risks and increased susceptibility to infections. The evidence in favour of increased susceptibility to infections in megaloblastic anaemia and protein-deficiency anaemia is overwhelming, but in iron-deficiency anaemia the available information argues in favour of reduced susceptibility to infections, except after initiation of iron therapy. The treatment of nutritional anaemia includes replacement of the deficient nutrients (and blood transfusion in severe cases), prevention of further nutrient losses and treatment of associated complications.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Deficiency testing for iron, vitamin B12 and folate.

Dietary cells and the vitamins B12 and folate are necessary for the production of the red blood cells (erythrocytes), which carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs. Deficiency of either one results in anaemia, which is characterised by low haemoglobin concentration. Symptoms result from reduced tissue oxygenation and include weakness, lethargy, palpitation, headache and shortness of breath. The first-time laboratory test of all patients suspected of being anaemic is the full blood count. Results of a full blood count may suggest the anaemia is caused by a nutritional deficiency of B12 folate or iron. Laboratory measurement of the concentration in blood of iron and vitamin B12 and folate, along with several other tests described here, are useful in the differential diagnosis of the anaemic patients.

Adult↗