An epidemiological study of protein calorie malnutrition in Rangoon

An epidemiological study of 238 cases of kwashiorkor admitted to the Rangoon Children's Hospital during the years 1968 and 1969 were studied. The peak age incidence was found to be between 2-3 years. The seasonal incidence of kwashiorkor is closely related to that of gastro-enteritis. The disease was found to be associated with low socio-economic status and family size. Bad feeding habits contributed to the develop-ment of the disease in 60 per cent of the cases.

Endemic goitre in Burma

Field and clinical studies of endemic g-1itre was carried out in the Chin Hills, Khamti District and Kayah State in !968 and 1969. The highest incidence in the Chin Hill Special Division was found to be 91.1 per cent of population surveyed. Incidence in Khamti and Kayah State were 51.8 per cent and 60.1 per cent respectively.

Effect of thiamine supplementation on thiamine content of human milk

Effect of thiamine supplement on the thiamine content of the mothers milk were studied on two groups of lactating mothers: one group of mothers with milk thiamine below 10g per 100ml and the other group with milk thiamine above 10g per 100ml. The effect of the supplement was measured by comparing the initial thiamine content of the milk against the thiamine content at the end of one month. The trial was conducted on completely randomized sample and the thiamine supplement was given at 3 levels of 2mg, 4mg and 6mg a day. There was significant rise in milk thiamine content in the mothers receiving the thiamine tablets as compared with the group receiving placebo. Dietary survey was also carried out in the homes of some mothers belonging to both the groups mentioned above in order to determine the thiamine intake of these mothers.

Effect of iodised oil on thyroid size and urinary iodine excretion

Trials with iodised oil 'Lipoid' was carried out in 87 subjects, mainly lady students of Rangoon Arts and Science University. Assessment of iodine nutritional status was made by measuring the urinary iodine excretion. It was found that the goitre tends to decrease in size with concomittant increase in iodine excretion.

Comparative study of thiamine levels in the maternal and cord blood

Umbilical cord blood thiamine levels of 105 new born infants and the venous blood thiamine levels of their mothers at the time of delivery were biochemically studied. The results show a wide range of thiamine values in both mothers and infants. There is a definite dependence and correlation between the thiamine values of the babies and their mothers; the thiamine concentration in the cord blood of the infants being greater than the thiamine concentration in the blood of its mothers. The majority of the mothers studied here have blood thiamine values comparable with the values for normal healthy Western subjects.

Anti-thiamine activity in Burmese fish

20 species of fish, 2 species of clams (shell fish), crustacean and their products were analysed for enzymatic and the-mostable anti-thiamine activity. Anti-thiamine activity is scarcely detected in muscles of fish. Viscera of fish showed higher anti-thiamine activity than muscles. Out of the viscera of 4 species of fish tested, thiaminase is present in all the species whereas thermostable factor is present in 2 species only. But thiaminase predominates ther-mostable factor. Clams have the highest activity of thiaminase but no thermostable factor.

Studies on the thiamine level of breast milk of some Burmese mothers

Milk thiamine level of 293 samples of 14 mothers during the early lactating period and 360 samples of mature milk from 96 mothers was determined. Mean thiamine level in the first 5 days of lactation is 7.76 ug per 100 ml rising to 9.17 ug during the transition period and to 9.96 ug 10 days after parturition. Mean thiamin e level in the mature milk is 13.9 ug per 100 ml. There is a difference in thiamine level from month to month. Mean thiamine level of mature milk of Burmese mothers is compared with data from other Asian countries.

Urinary thiamine excretion in pregnant mothers

Thiamine in the casual urine samples of 474 pregnant mothers attending the Tower Lane Maternity Shelter and the Out-Patient Department of the Rangoon Dufferin Hospital was determined. Out of all the mothers included in the study 41.2 per cent were found to be excreting deficient or low amount of thiamine. Thiamine excretion varies with different socioeconomic groups. Parity and the age of the mothers have no influence on the urinary thiamine level.

A study of infantile beriberi in Rangoon

Two hundred beriberi patients admitted into the Rangoon Children Hospital were studied clinically. Thiamine excretion in the urine of 197 mothers of beriberi cases and 45 mothers of non-beriberi cases was measured. Thiamine content of the milk of 45 mothers of infantile beriberi cases and 45 mothers of non-beriberi cases was also measured. Incidence of infantile beriberi was found to be highest between the first and fourth month of life. Infantile beriberi occurs commonly and typically in infants receiving mother's milk. There is a significant relationship between the level of thiamine in the mother's milk and occurrence of beriberi. Mothers of beriberi infants do not necessarily have beriberi.

Species difference in carotenoids contents of bananas

(1) Carotenoids content of seven native bananas were examined. Vitamin A values of the furits were also given.(2) A significant species difference of carotenoids content in bananas was found.(3) Carotenoids biosynthesis in ripeining process of the bananas was also studied. A slight increase in carotenoids as the fruits repened was noted.