RESUMEN
La exposición perinatal a diversos contaminantes ambientales y a otros agentes químicos afecta en formairreversible la diferenciación y programación de diversos tipos celulares, alterando cualitativa y cuantitativamentesus receptores hormonales mediante el mecanismo del imprinting, afectando su función y determinando el desarrollo de diversas patologías más tarde en la vida. En el presente trabajo se describen los agentes más conspicuos que actúan por este mecanismo afectando de por vida la salud reproductiva y la sexualidad. La investigación de este mecanismo, la identificación de sus agentes inductores y el desarrollo de medidas legislativas y administrativas para minimizar el daño constituyen un desafío pendiente para mejorar la saludreproductiva de las futuras generaciones.
Perinatal exposure to various environmental pollutants and other chemical agents irreversibly affects thedifferentiation and programming of various cell-types. This process quantitatively and qualitatively alters their hormone receptors through the mechanism of imprinting, affecting their function and determining the development of various pathologies later in life. The present report describes the most conspicuous agents acting through this mechanism, affecting for life reproductive health and sexuality. The study in detail of this mechanism, the identification of imprinting-inducing agents and the development of legislative and administrative measures to minimize damage constitute a pending challenge to improve future generations reproductive health.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Embarazo , Contaminantes Ambientales/efectos adversos , Contaminantes Ambientales/toxicidad , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal , Reproducción , Bifenilos Policlorados/efectos adversos , Cadmio/efectos adversos , Cafeína/efectos adversos , Contaminación por Humo de Tabaco , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/efectos adversos , Etanol/efectos adversos , Plaguicidas/efectos adversos , Plomo/efectos adversosRESUMEN
The nutritional status of 111 elderly men and women aget 60 to 99 years in two institutions in the Ecuadorian Andes was evaluated using dietary, anthropometric and biochemical measurement. Mean daily energy intakes of men and women were 1720 and 1650 Kcal, respectively (7,2 and 6.9 MJ), corresponding to 1.5 times the calculated basal metabolic rate (BMR). 6 por ciento of subjects had intakes less tham 1.2 x BMR and 40 por ciento less than 1.5 x BMR. Body mass index (BMI) was below 20 kg/m2 in 21 por ciento of subjects; 45 por ciento were between 20 and 24. Only one subject had a BMI over 29. Intakes of protein, calcium, iron, riboflavin and vitamin C were satisfactory, in contrast to those of zinc, vitamin A, niacin and thiamin. Using sex-and altitude-specific cutoffs for hemoglobin, anemia was observed in 11 por ciento of subjects. Nutritional status, evaluated using biochemical indicators, was satisfactory with respect to riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin E and copper. 14 por ciento of subjects had low serum zinc levels and 17 por ciento had serum albumin values below 35 g/L. Low physical activity was associated with low energy intake and low serum albumin levels