Niveles séricos de zinc, hierro y cobre en tres grupos de escolares colombianos: relación con algunos parámetros antropométricos

La deficiencia de micronutrientes es frecuente en países en desarrollo. El objetivo del estudio fué comparar los niveles séricos de zinc, hierro y cobre en tres grupos de escolares (8 a 9 años) y correlacionarlos con algunas medidas antropométricas. El grupo 1 estuvo constituido por 26 escolares de un colegio privado de Santafé de Bogotá, el 2 por 21 niños de instituciones públicas de una zona rural, cercana a esta ciudad y el 3 por 28 sujetos de una escuela pública de la capital. Los micronutrientes se midieron por espectrometria de emisión atómica con plasma acoplado por inducción. El grupo 1 presentó talla (126.2+/-3.6) mayor al 2 (122.6+/-4.8 cm) y al 3 (122.1 +/-5.0 cm). Las concentraciones de zinc del grupo 1 (67+/-9 ug/dl) fueron mayores al 2 (59+/-11 ug/dl) y al 3 (50+/-13ug/dl). El grupo 3 presentó sidermia menor (71+/-21ug/dl) al 1 (90+/-30ug/dl). El grupo 1 evidenció niveles de cobre (100+/-19Ug/dl) mayores al 2 (77+/-13ug/dl) y al 3 (82+/-20ug/dl). Los resultados suguieren que los niños de los grupos 2 y 3 están expuestos a posibles condicienes medioambientales que inciden desfavorablemente en su crecimiento corporal y que son los niños del grupo 2 los que presntan el menor acceso a los micronutrientes zinc y hierro.

Fatores nutricionais que influem na formaçäo e manutençäo do osso / Nutricional, factors that affect bone formation and maintenance

O presente é uma atualizaçäo do conhecimento sobre os fatores nutricionais e bioquímicos que intervém no desenvolvimento e manutençäo do sistema ósseo. Avalia-se a importância de se levar em consideraçäo a biodisponibilidade do cálcio e eventuais excessos de fosfatos e proteína na dieta, assim como a participaçäo do flúor, magnésio, zinco, manganês, cobre, boro, silício e vanádio, entre outros minerais-traço. A abordagem nutricional de se atingir uma massa óssea máxima, até o fim da juventude, é apresentada como medida preventiva contra a ameaça da osteoporose

Experimental approach to the effects of phenytoin on some serum trace elements, body growth and motor activity

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of oral administration of phenytoin 0.9 mg/kg body weight [B.W.] for mice and 0.32 mg/kg B.W. for rabbits for 15 consecutive days on the serum levels of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron and weight changes as well as on the motor activity. Two types of experimental animals were used viz rabbits and mice to visualize if any species difference might exist in response to phenytoin treatment. The results showed that phenytoin treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of zinc and iron, significantly increased the level of copper, whilist the serum magnesium concentration was not significantly altered in the animals tested [mice or rabbits]. The serum calcium level was decreased significantly in mice but not in rabbits [which might be due to species difference between mice and rabbits]. Also in the present study control animals receiving only saline treatment showed the normal growth pattern and their weight increased considerably after the 15 days treatment period, while the weight of those receiving phenytoin remained nearly as such and did not show any significant increase following the treatment period. The motor activity of mice was found to be imparied after phyenytoin treatment. Further investigations should be done to explore the relation between phenytoin treatment and different trace elements regarding side effects and the growth of children

Ultratrace minerals mythical elixirs or nutrients of concern?

Demonstration of the nutrirional significance of the ultratrace elements has resulted from studies indicating enhanced need in organisms exposed to various metabolic, hormonal, physiological and nutritional stresses. These studies indicate that some ultratrace elements, namely boron and silicon, will be found to be nutritionally important. The dietary lack of these elements may result in suboptimal and composition of bone and brain