Differences between bone mineral density, lean and fat mass of HIV-positive and HIV-negative black women

Objectives: To investigate the differences between bone mineral density (BMD), lean and fat mass of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-) positive and HIV-negative black women and to investigate factors associated with low BMD. Methods: Case-control study of black women (n= 565) aged 29­65 years from Potchefstroom, North West province, South Africa, based on secondary analysis of data. Total BMD, left femur neck of the hip (LFN BMD), spine BMD, total fat, fat-free tissue mass and percentage body fat (%BF) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: HIV-negative women had significantly higher median BMD, %BF, appendicular skeletal mass (ASM), ASM index, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than HIV-positive women. When the groups were matched for age and BMI, only spine BMD was marginally lower in HIV-positive women. In the total group, age, smoking and HIV status were associated with lower BMD, while calcium intake was positively associated with BMD. Similar variables were associated with BMD in HIV-negative women, while age and educational status were associated with BMD in HIV-positive women. Conclusion: Low BMD was more common among HIV-positive than HIV-negative women. Older HIV-positive women with low educational status are particularly at risk

Waist circumference percentiles of black South African children aged 10 - 14 years from different study sites

Background. Waist circumference (WC) is a useful predictor of cardiometabolic risk in children. Published data on WC percentiles of children from African countries are limited.Objectives. To describe age- and sex-specific Wpercentiles in black South African (SA) children from different study sites, and compare these percentiles with median WCpercentiles of African-American (AA) children.Methods. Secondary data on WC for 10 - 14-year-old black SA children (N=4 954; 2 406 boys and 2 548 girls) were extracted from the data sets of six studies. Smoothed WC percentile curves for boys and girls were constructed using the LMS method. The 50th percentile for age- and sex-specific WC measurements was compared across study sites and with AA counterparts.Results. Girls had higher WC values than boys from the 50th to 95th percentiles at all ages. The 50th WC percentiles of all groups of SA children combined were lower than those of AA children. When SA groups were considered separately, Western Cape children had median WC values similar to AA children, while rural Limpopo children had the lowest WC values. The 95th percentiles for Western Cape girls exceeded the adult cutoff point for metabolic syndrome (WC ≥80 cm) from age 11years.Conclusions. The differences in WC values for 10 - 14-year-old children across the six study sites highlight the need for nationally representative data to develop age-, sex- and ethnic-specific WC percentiles for black SA children. The results raise concerns about high WC among Western Cape girls

Breastfeeding Pattern; Anthropometry and Health Status of Infants Attending Child Welfare Clinics of a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Objective:To determine the breastfeeding pattern and its relationship with the physical growth and health status of infants aged 0-24 weeks.Design and setting: A prospective cohort study was carried out at three comprehensive health centres of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital; Anambra State (Nigeria) from September 2006 to June 2007. The feeding pattern; body weight; length and morbidity of 228 infants were assessed at birth; 6; 10; 14; 20 and 24 weeks when they visited the child welfare clinics for routine immunisations or on appointment.The infants were recruited from the immunisation registers by a systematic random sampling method. Based on their current feeding pattern during the period under study; infants were classified into exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and non-exclusive breastfeeding (non-EBF) groups. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS and Epi Info statistical computer software. A probability value (p-value) of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The EBF rate declined progressively from 64.9at birth to 37.3at 24 weeks of age. Maternal older age; multiparity and delivery at a government health facility were positively associated with higher rates of EBF (p 0.05). Only 110 (48.2) babies were put to the breast immediately (? 1 hour) after delivery. The numbers that received colostrum and prelacteal feed were 118 (82.5) and 59 (25.9); respectively. On-demand breastfeeding was more popular than timed feeding (95.5vs 7.5; p 0.05).At 24 weeks of age EBF males and females achieved a better and more rapid growth in weight and length compared to those in the non-EBF group (p