Anthropometry, lipid- and vitamin status of 215 health-conscious Thai elderly.

A survey was carried out on 59 males and 146 females aged 60 years and above from a special clinic for the elderly in Bangkok. All of these subjects had no major complaints of ill health and, judging by their appearance, they seemed to be apparently healthy. 6.8% of the males and 11% of the females were found to be over-nourished. Less than 15% of all the individuals under investigation were suffering from hypertension, hyperglycaemia and hyperuricaemia. 35% of the males but only 13% of the females were anemic. The lipid status of the females was generally worse with statistically higher median values for total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides than the males. There was no significant difference in the variation of HDL-cholesterol between the sexes. High vitamin C, B2 and B6 deficiency rates were observed in both the males and the females.

Vitamin B1, B2 and B6 in relation to anthropometry, hemoglobin and albumin of newborns and their mothers from northeast Thailand.

The weight and height measurements of fifty-three mothers and their newborns residing in the northeast of Thailand were recorded. Hemoglobin, albumin and cord blood samples were taken immediately after delivery. The vitamin B1, B2 and B6 status of the women and their newborns was assessed through functional tests. Vitamin B1 and B2 status of the newborns was found to be generally better than those of their mothers. This is not so, however, for vitamin B6. The rate of deficiency in the mothers was highest for vitamin B2 (54.7%). The mothers' height, hemoglobin and albumin concentrations and their vitamin B2 status correlated with those of their children at birth. 50% of low birth weight deliveries (2500 g and below) were included in this study. The risk of a low birth weight delivery cannot, however, be explained by any of the biochemical variables. Although the rate of low birth weight is used commonly to determine mother and child health care, this paper shows that for Hb, albumin, Vitamins B1, B2 and B6, it is not an effective indicator used to determine nutritional deficiencies in mothers.