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Nutritional Status of Patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis from a Tropical Area of Bolivia, and Implications for Zinc Bioavailability

Lazarte, Claudia LU ; Alegre, Claudia ; Rojas, Ernesto and Granfeldt, Yvonne LU (2013) In Food and Nutrition Sciences 4. p.49-60
Abstract
Macro and micronutrient deficiencies are a significant problem among people in rural areas in developing countries. Deficiencies may lead to an impaired immune system making the organism vulnerable to infections and diseases. In this paper, the dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, zinc and copper levels in serum, of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are compared with a group of healthy controls and reference values. Results showed no significant differences in most nutrient intake or anthropometrics between patients and controls. However, serum zinc level of pa- tients (80 μg/dl) was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than in controls (85 μg/dl), likely explained by the presence of leishmaniasis. The median serum zinc... (More)
Macro and micronutrient deficiencies are a significant problem among people in rural areas in developing countries. Deficiencies may lead to an impaired immune system making the organism vulnerable to infections and diseases. In this paper, the dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, zinc and copper levels in serum, of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are compared with a group of healthy controls and reference values. Results showed no significant differences in most nutrient intake or anthropometrics between patients and controls. However, serum zinc level of pa- tients (80 μg/dl) was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than in controls (85 μg/dl), likely explained by the presence of leishmaniasis. The median serum zinc level in both groups was below the reference values, even though their median zinc intake met the zinc recommendations from WHO. Consequently, besides the presence of leishmaniasis, serum zinc levels may be compromised by inhibitory components in their diet, such as phytates, as it is shown by the molar ratio phytate:zinc (Phy:Zn) that was between 11 and 19, while 15 is the level said to compromise zinc status. There were significant (P < 0.05) negative correlations between serum zinc and Phy:Zn, for patients (r = −0.413) and controls (r = −0.410). In conclusion this study shows that patients with CL in Chapare, Bolivia had low serum zinc levels due to the leishmaniasis per se and the decreased zinc bioavailability in their diet. CL infection was not in direct association with the nutritional status indicated by the anthropometric or dietary assessments. However, dietary intake showed 5 essen- tial nutrients below the nutrient recommendation in both groups. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Nutritional Status, Leishmaniasis, Dietary Intake, Anthropometrics, Zinc Bioavailability, Phytates
in
Food and Nutrition Sciences
volume
4
pages
49 - 60
publisher
Scientific Research Publishing (SCIRP)
ISSN
2157-9458
DOI
10.4236/fns.2013.410A009
project
CAP
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6b6b3e96-9064-4810-a083-67b18c2ad144 (old id 4195835)
alternative location
http://www.scirp.org/journal/fns
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:34:26
date last changed
2023-03-29 13:39:16
@article{6b6b3e96-9064-4810-a083-67b18c2ad144,
  abstract     = {{Macro and micronutrient deficiencies are a significant problem among people in rural areas in developing countries. Deficiencies may lead to an impaired immune system making the organism vulnerable to infections and diseases. In this paper, the dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, zinc and copper levels in serum, of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are compared with a group of healthy controls and reference values. Results showed no significant differences in most nutrient intake or anthropometrics between patients and controls. However, serum zinc level of pa- tients (80 μg/dl) was significantly lower (P &lt; 0.001) than in controls (85 μg/dl), likely explained by the presence of leishmaniasis. The median serum zinc level in both groups was below the reference values, even though their median zinc intake met the zinc recommendations from WHO. Consequently, besides the presence of leishmaniasis, serum zinc levels may be compromised by inhibitory components in their diet, such as phytates, as it is shown by the molar ratio phytate:zinc (Phy:Zn) that was between 11 and 19, while 15 is the level said to compromise zinc status. There were significant (P &lt; 0.05) negative correlations between serum zinc and Phy:Zn, for patients (r = −0.413) and controls (r = −0.410). In conclusion this study shows that patients with CL in Chapare, Bolivia had low serum zinc levels due to the leishmaniasis per se and the decreased zinc bioavailability in their diet. CL infection was not in direct association with the nutritional status indicated by the anthropometric or dietary assessments. However, dietary intake showed 5 essen- tial nutrients below the nutrient recommendation in both groups.}},
  author       = {{Lazarte, Claudia and Alegre, Claudia and Rojas, Ernesto and Granfeldt, Yvonne}},
  issn         = {{2157-9458}},
  keywords     = {{Nutritional Status; Leishmaniasis; Dietary Intake; Anthropometrics; Zinc Bioavailability; Phytates}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{49--60}},
  publisher    = {{Scientific Research Publishing (SCIRP)}},
  series       = {{Food and Nutrition Sciences}},
  title        = {{Nutritional Status of Patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis from a Tropical Area of Bolivia, and Implications for Zinc Bioavailability}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/1957178/4195853.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.4236/fns.2013.410A009}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}