Food consumption and serum nutritional status of people living in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: The food consumption and serum nutritional status of people living in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal, were examined to obtain actual data for comparison with our previous findings. METHODS: A dietary survey of 45 males and 60 females was carried out in March 1997 by the 24-hr dietary recall method and nutrient intake was calculated from food tables of India and Japan. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained and serum biochemical parameters were measured using clinical kits. RESULTS: The mean body mass index values was at about the same level in both sexes, although the mean percentage body fat of females was higher than that of males, and vice versa for packed red cell volume. The main foods consumed by both sexes, were rice, potatoes, meats, milk & dairy products and vegetables, with a difference in the amounts consumed. Females did not drink alcoholic beverages. The mean daily intakes of energy, protein, lipids, iron and vitamin B group for the males were higher than those for the females, while those of vitamins A and C for the males were lower than those for the females. The mean values of serum biochemical parameters for both sexes were generally at the normal levels, but those of ALT and TG were at the higher end of the normal range. Differences of correlation between food groups and between serum parameters were observed depending on the sex, however, no clear relationship between food and nutrient intake and serum biochemical parameters were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present food intake study revealed that the amounts of food consumption for both sexes, especially for the females, were mostly insufficient although the serum parameters were at the normal levels. The energy intake of both sexes was lower than that of estimated requirements and those in Terai region. The relatively high serum TG level of the subjects may be due to the consumption of large amounts of cereals containing much carbohydrate. Our findings suggested a marked influence on food consumption by food price and income in spite of the easier food availability in the city, and also lack of knowledge about nutrients and health, thus there is need for improvement of the nutritional status of this group of people.

Serum nutritional status of tocopherol and retinol normalized to lipids of persons living in the southern rural Terai region in Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the levels of serum α-Tocopherol (Toc), retinol (Ret), cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG), and their correlations in the sera of people in Nepal. METHODS: The survey was conducted on the general populace in the agricultural Terai region in southern Nepal. The study population consisted of 93 males and 83 females aged 10-68 years. Serum Toc and Ret were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the genders for the average of total Chol (T-Chol) (140 and 145 mg/100 ml, respectively), HDL-C (45 and 47 mg/100 ml), LDL-C (94 and 97 mg/100 ml), and TG (106 and 110 mg/100 ml), and the ratio of LDL/HDL (2.16). The levels of mean Toc (4.32 and 4.27 µg/ml) were about the same for both genders, while the mean Ret levels were significantly higher for males (624 ng/ml) than for females (535 ng/ml) (p<0.001). A direct relationship was found between the levels of Toc and Ret (r=0.46, p<0.001 and r=0.28, p<0.05 for males and females, respectively). Serum levels of Toc and Ret were positively related to the levels of Chol (r=0.48 and r=0.58, p<0.001 for males and r=0.49, p<0.01 and r-0.28, p<0.05 for females, respectively). The ratio of Toc/TG normalized to serum TG was directly correlated to the ratio of Ret/TG (r=0.79 for males, and r=0.72 for females, p<0.001, respectively) and the ratios of Toc/TG and Ret/TG were negatively related to the LDL/HDL levels (r=-0.49 and r=-0.43, for males, and r=-0.46 and r=-0.57 for females, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The levels of Toc and Ret were low in the sera of people living in the southern rural Terai region in Nepal, and it was found that lower levels of Toc and Ret normalized to TG increased the ratio of LDL/HDL. These results suggest that greater intake of foods rich in Toc and Ret should be encouraged to reduce the erisk of coronary heart disease.

Groundwater arsenic contamination, its health impact and mitigation program in Nepal.

About 47% of Nepal's total population is living in Terai region and 90% of them are relying on groundwater as their major source of drinking water. About 200,000 shallow tubewells have been installed by different agencies in 20 Terai districts, serving 11 million people. Recently, arsenic contamination of groundwater has been recognized as a public health problem in Nepal. This has sensitized government, national and international nongovernment organizations working on water quality sector to carry out water quality assessment for arsenic in the affected communities. So far, 15,000 tubewells has been tested where 23% samples exceeded World Health Organization guideline value of 10 microg/L and 5% exceeded "Nepal Interim Arsenic Guideline" of 50 microg/L. It is estimated that around 0.5 million people in Terai are living at risk of arsenic poisoning (>50 microg/L). Some recent studies have reported the prevalence of dermatosis related to arsenicosis from 1.3 to 5.1% and the accumulation of arsenic in biological samples like hair and nail much higher than the acceptable level. Though some steps are being taken by government and private organizations to combat the problem, it has not been able to cover all the affected communities. Nepal still needs more research work on arsenic occurrence and effects and mitigation programs simultaneously.

Serum protein and immunoglobulin levels among nepalese living in southern Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the levels of serum protein fractionation, immunoglobulin (Ig) and antistreptolysin O (ASO) of people (91 males and 84 females aged 10-68 years) living in the Terai region of southern Nepal, as there has previously been no information available about them. METHODS: Blood samples were collected early in the morning after overnight fasting. Serum protein fractionation was carried out by cellulose-acetate electrophoresis. IgG, IgA, IgM and ASO were measured by immuno-turbidimetry with clinical kits. RESULTS: The mean proportion of albumin (Alb) was rather low due to increased globulin (Glb). The Alb level of males was significantly higher than that of females, while the male γ-Glb level was significantly lower than that of females. The mean values of IgG, IgM and ASO for males were lower than those values for females, although the difference was significant only for the IgM value. The mean values of IgM for female age groups of 30-39 years or less were significantly higher than those for the corresponding male age groups. Age correlated positively with IgA, and negatively with ASO in both sexes. γ-Glb and IgG correlated significantly with TP, AlB, α(1)-Glb and IgA in both sexes. ASO correlated with ß-Glb and IgA in males, and with γ-Glb and IgG in females. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that the level of γ-Glb, a major component of serum globulin, was high suggested exposure to a highly bacterial and viral environment. These results point to the need to prevent infectious diseases as well as improve their nutritional status, especially for children and young adults.