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Nutritional status of children with intestinal parasites from a tropical area of Bolivia, emphasis on zinc and iron status

Lazarte, Claudia LU ; Soto, Andrea ; Medrano, Nora ; Alvarez, Leovegildo ; Bergenståhl, Björn LU and Granfeldt, Yvonne LU (2015) In Food and Nutrition Sciences 6(4). p.399-411
Abstract
Malnutrition and parasitic diseases are within the major issues in rural areas in developing countries. In this study, the nutritional status, dietary intake including mineral absorption inhibitor (phytate), hematological indicators and trace element status (zinc, iron) were evaluated and associated to the presence of intestinal parasites in a group of children from a rural area of Bolivia. The results showed that 96% of the children had intestinal parasites; 7 types of parasites (Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercolaris) were identified. Anthropometric measurements indicated that 37% of the children were stunted and 17% were... (More)
Malnutrition and parasitic diseases are within the major issues in rural areas in developing countries. In this study, the nutritional status, dietary intake including mineral absorption inhibitor (phytate), hematological indicators and trace element status (zinc, iron) were evaluated and associated to the presence of intestinal parasites in a group of children from a rural area of Bolivia. The results showed that 96% of the children had intestinal parasites; 7 types of parasites (Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercolaris) were identified. Anthropometric measurements indicated that 37% of the children were stunted and 17% were underweight. Iron and zinc intake showed that 34% and 30% of children had inadequate intake of these nutrients respectively. Phytate: zinc molar ratios were between 6.5 and 21, and from 6.2 to 15 for phytate: iron, indicating that the absorption of zinc and iron might be compromised by the level of phytate in the diet. The serum zinc was below the lower cut-off in 87% of the children, indicating zinc deficiency. Moreover, a multiple regression model showed the significant effect of the presence of the parasite Giardia lamblia and phytate intake on the serum zinc levels. Regarding the iron status, 30% of the children presented with anemia and about 66% had iron deficiency; a simple linear regression model showed the significant negative effect of the presence of the parasite Ancylostoma duodenale on iron status. In conclusion, the levels of zinc and iron, which were low in this child population, were greatly affected by the presence of intestinal parasites; in addition, the consumption of plant-based diets with high levels of phytate also impaired the zinc absorption. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Food and Nutrition Sciences
volume
6
issue
4
pages
399 - 411
publisher
Scientific Research Publishing (SCIRP)
ISSN
2157-9458
DOI
10.4236/fns.2015.64041
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
89f78868-d045-4711-a087-786240d2ccf3
date added to LUP
2019-02-11 10:28:35
date last changed
2019-03-07 16:26:39
@article{89f78868-d045-4711-a087-786240d2ccf3,
  abstract     = {{Malnutrition and parasitic diseases are within the major issues in rural areas in developing countries. In this study, the nutritional status, dietary intake including mineral absorption inhibitor (phytate), hematological indicators and trace element status (zinc, iron) were evaluated and associated to the presence of intestinal parasites in a group of children from a rural area of Bolivia. The results showed that 96% of the children had intestinal parasites; 7 types of parasites (Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercolaris) were identified. Anthropometric measurements indicated that 37% of the children were stunted and 17% were underweight. Iron and zinc intake showed that 34% and 30% of children had inadequate intake of these nutrients respectively. Phytate: zinc molar ratios were between 6.5 and 21, and from 6.2 to 15 for phytate: iron, indicating that the absorption of zinc and iron might be compromised by the level of phytate in the diet. The serum zinc was below the lower cut-off in 87% of the children, indicating zinc deficiency. Moreover, a multiple regression model showed the significant effect of the presence of the parasite Giardia lamblia and phytate intake on the serum zinc levels. Regarding the iron status, 30% of the children presented with anemia and about 66% had iron deficiency; a simple linear regression model showed the significant negative effect of the presence of the parasite Ancylostoma duodenale on iron status. In conclusion, the levels of zinc and iron, which were low in this child population, were greatly affected by the presence of intestinal parasites; in addition, the consumption of plant-based diets with high levels of phytate also impaired the zinc absorption.}},
  author       = {{Lazarte, Claudia and Soto, Andrea and Medrano, Nora and Alvarez, Leovegildo and Bergenståhl, Björn and Granfeldt, Yvonne}},
  issn         = {{2157-9458}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{399--411}},
  publisher    = {{Scientific Research Publishing (SCIRP)}},
  series       = {{Food and Nutrition Sciences}},
  title        = {{Nutritional status of children with intestinal parasites from a tropical area of Bolivia, emphasis on zinc and iron status}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/fns.2015.64041}},
  doi          = {{10.4236/fns.2015.64041}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}