The APOA5-rs662799 Polymorphism Is a Determinant of Dyslipidemia in Vietnamese Primary School Children.

Apolipoprotein A-V encoded by apolipoprotein 5 (APOA5) gene plays an important role in lipid metabolism, especially in the regulation of plasma triglycerol levels. The study aimed to evaluate the association of the APOA5-rs662799 polymorphism with dyslipidemia in Vietnamese children and the potential modification of obesity-related traits (body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio) on this association. A case-control study was conducted with a total of 154 dyslipidemia cases and 389 controls at the age of 6 to 10 recruited at 31 primary schools in Hanoi city of Vietnam. Genotype for APOA5-rs662799 polymorphism was determined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The association of APOA5-rs662799 polymorphism with dyslipidemia adjusting for age, sex, residence, and obesity-related traits was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. The results showed that in comparison with T/T and T/C carriers, the C/C carriers had a higher concentration of serum TAG in cases (p =0.049). Carriers of the C allele (C/C + T/C) had higher risk for developing dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia than subjects with T/T genotype (odds ratio, OR = 1.7, p =0.0062 and OR = 1.6, p = 0.026, respectively). The association remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, residence, and obesity status (OR = 1.75, p = 0.006 and OR = 1.53, p = 0.049, respectively) or other obesity-related traits. The study suggested that the APOA5-rs662799 polymorphism may be a determinant of dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia in Vietnamese children, independent of obesity-related traits.

Secular trend in size at birth of Vietnamese newborns during the last 2 decades (1980-2000).

The aim of the study was to investigate the secular changes in size at birth of Vietnamese newborns, and to determine the relationship between size at birth of the infants and nutritional status of their parents. Length, weight, mid upper arm circumference and head circumference of 586 newborns from the two maternity houses Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung in Hanoi, Vietnam were measured. Information on socioeconomic conditions, health status, weight, and height of the parents were also obtained. There was a significant increase of birth weight (190 g,P=0.008; T-test) and length (1.3 cm, P=0.001; T-test) of Vietnamese newborns compared to those of newborns of the 1980's (1980-1984). There was a positive secular trend in parent's height and weight after a period of one and a half decades (height and weight increase of mothers: 2.6 kg and 1.9 cm, respectively; height and weight increase of fathers: 4.5 kg and 1.6 cm, respectively). The data showed that the birth weight of infants in the Capital of Vietnam have caught up with those of infants from richer societies in the Northern hemisphere.

Mid-upper-arm circumference development and its validity in assessment of undernutrition.

As part of a prospective, longitudinal study that was carried out in Hanoi, Vietnam (as from 1981), mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) measurements, and the weight and height of children were taken from children for the first year of life. These measurements were recorded monthly, 12-36 months: 3-monthly, 36-72 months: 6-monthly and yearly for children beyond 72 months. The aim of this study was to observe development of MUAC of children on a longitudinal basis. Mid-upper-arm circumference increases by about 1 cm for boys and 1.5 cm for girls between 1 and 5 years. To recognise malnutrition, the cut-off level of MUAC 13.5 cm gave high values for sensitivity and specificity only for children aged 6-12 months. The cut-off levels of 14.0, 14.5 and 15.0 cm were more appropriate for children aged 13-24, 25-36 and 37-60 months. These results suggest that a single cut-off point of MUAC 13.5 cm cannot be used in screening moderate malnutrition for all children under age 5 but should be elevated with the increasing age of children.