ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between smoking habits and folate status in a group of elderly Spanish men. DESIGN: We studied folate intake, serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations, hematological and biochemical data in 72 elderly males (comparing 24 smokers data with 44 nonsmokers ones). RESULTS: Percentage deficiencies for folate intake, serum and erythrocyte levels were higher in smokers. Serum folate levels were significantly higher in nonsmokers. Smokers had higher mean corpuscular volume than did nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking could be harmful to the intake and folate status. For smokers who will not give up the habit, improved dietary intake or a folate supplement is advisable.
Subject(s)
Folic Acid/administration & dosage , Folic Acid/blood , Smoking/adverse effects , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Erythrocyte Indices , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Folic Acid Deficiency/etiology , Humans , Male , Smoking/blood , SpainABSTRACT
Four cases of trichinosis found in a family living in Iztapalapa, Mexico, D.F. are reported. The family reported to frequently eat raw sausage originally from Villanueva, Zacatecas from which Trichinella spiralis larvae were isolated. Diagnosis was difficult in the first case since no epidemiological history was associated with the patient, besides the fact that the patient showed no signs of eosinophilia and blood tests were negative. The diagnosis in this case was confirmed through muscular biopsy. The predominating symptomatology consisted in the trilogy of fever, eyelid edema and myalgias.
