Association of insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], dietary intake and cognitive functions in normal school age children

Insulin-like growth factor I [IGF-I] is a hormone that mediates the effects of growth hormone and plays a critical role in somatic growth regulation and organ development. It is hypothesized that it also plays a key role in human brain development. The dietary determinants of circulating levels of components of the IGF system are of interest, as these may mediate some of the effects of diet on later health. However, few studies have examined the relationship between diet and IGF-1 levels in children, as well as the relationship between IGF-1 and mental development. To investigate the role of diet on levels of IGF-I and their relationships with measures of IQ in a group of healthy children. The study included 222 apparently healthy children [113 boys and 109 girls], their height for age and weight for age were between 10[th]-90[th] percentiles according to World Health Organization [WHO] growth standards, their age ranged 8-11 years and all were prepubescent. They were chosen randomly from primary schools located in urban Giza Governorate. Nutritional status was assessed by 24-hours dietary intake history and anthropometric measurements [weight, height]. Plasma IGF-1 was evaluated by radioimmu-noassay technique, growth hormone [GH] was determined by immuno-enzymatic assay. Intelligence quotient [IQ] was measured with the Arabic version of the revised-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Familial background was investigated through structured questionnaire. IGF-1 levels [mean +/- SD] were 142.6 +/- 43.3 ng/mL for girls and 139.4 +/- 39.6ng/mL for boys. GH level was within normal range. IQ scores [mean +/- SD] were 101.03 +/- 17.4 and 103.11 +/- 19.8 for boys and girls, respectively. IGF-1 levels were associated positively with IQ [r=0.81, p

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid profile in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and their relation to lipid peroxidation

Type-1 diabetes is one of the major chronic illnesses during childhood. In this study, levels of glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1], lipoproteins and the major groups of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma were studied in 30 diabetic patients and compared with 20 non diabetic children. Malondialdhyde, a lipid peroxidation end product was also assayed. In the present work, the parent essential fatty acid, lenoleic acid [LA] was found to be higher in the DM-1 patients than in controls. However, values of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [LCPUFAs] namely [dohom-gamma-Linolenic acid C20:3w6 [DHGLA], arachidonic acid C20:5w6 [AA] and Docosapentanoic acid C20:5w6 [DPA], from omega 6 series as well as docosahexaenoic acid C22:6w3 [DHA] from omega 3 series in diabetic children were found to be significantly lower than non diabetics. This pattern of plasma PUFAs is compatible with a reduced conversion rate of the essential fatty acids [EFA] to their respective longer chain metabolites in DM-1 children. As regards lipoprotein pattern abnormalities could be found except for triglycerides levels. A positive correlation was found between Hb-A1 and each of cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C/Cholesterol, LDL-C/HDL-C and a reversed correlation was encountered between HbA1 and HDL-C. This result emphasizes the relation between poor metabolic control in hyperglycemic patients and increased CVD risk. There is an enhanced lipid peroxidation in DM-1 with affected plasma lipoproteins pattern. Under insulin insufficiency, there is reduced formation of long chain omega 6 PUFA from parent EFA together with a decreased level of omega-3 fatty acids

Effect of supplementation with zinc and iron on growth, development and morbidity in infants in an urban neighborhood in Cairo, Egypt

Iron and zinc are trace minerals that are of critical importance to the young infant for normal growth and development.To investigate the effect of zinc and iron supplementation on growth and mental performance in infants. This study is a r and omized controlled trial conducted in an old crowded district in Cairo, Egypt. At baseline 119 infants aged 4 months [ +/- 15 days] randomly assigned to receive 5ml per day of either supplement A [multivitamins with zinc and iron added] or supplement B [multivitamins without zinc and iron]. Infants were examined clinically and anthropometric measures [weight, length and knee-heel] were taken. They were followed up for history taking [diet and morbidity], clinical examination and anthropometric measurements every 15 days till the age of 10 months +/- 2 weeks. Mental and Motor development were assessed at baseline [4 months] and at the end of the study [10 month +/- 2 weeks] using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development [BSID II]. The study was single blinded for clinical and growth assessment, while it was double blinded for developmental evaluation.Infants included in the study were those who had at least 3 recordings of anthropometric measurements [n=69 infants]. Repeated measures ANOVA test was used to compare differences between the groups, change with time, and group and time interaction. At the end of the study the zinc and iron supplemented group showed a slight but insignificant rise in anthropometric measurements. Developmental performance [MDI and PDI] also showed an insignificant rise at the end of the study in the supplemented group. Change with time is the same in both groups, differences between groups is the same at each time period. Comparison of growth rate between the two groups showed a trend towards increased velocity of all growth parameters in the zinc and iron supplemented group, however the difference between the two groups is not significant. Comparison of number of episodes of fever, upper respiratory tract infection [URTI] lower respiratory tract infection [LRTI] and diarrhea between the two groups showed no statistical differences, though we could see an increase in the percent number of infants with morbidity [except for URTI] in the group not supplemented with iron and zinc.Infants in both groups gained weight and length similar to reference data. In spite of this, we see a trend towards increased velocity of weight in the zinc and iron supplemented group as compared to the non-supplemented group. This is also associated with an apparent decrease in morbidity in the supplemented group