Hypercholesterolemia in Thai primary school children: Relation to maternal and nutritional factors

Background: There is evidence to show that atherosclerosis can occur in young children and that elevated total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations are risk factors for atherosclerosis. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the influence of maternal and nutritional factors on blood cholesterol in primary school children.
Methods: One hundred and ninety-five population-based mother–child pairs (obese child–overweight mother pairs, n = 60; obese child–normal-weight mother pairs, n = 48; wasted child–overweight mother pairs, n = 37; normal-weight child–normal-weight mother pairs, n = 50), were enrolled in the study. Various anthropometric parameters were measured and serum lipids of subjects were further determined. Biological data and children's eating behavior were obtained from the mothers through interviews.
Results: Hypercholesterolemia was found in 64.6–65% of obese children, 24.3% of wasted children and in 56% of the normal-weight children; whereas the proportion of children in all groups who had normal blood cholesterol levels was in the lower range. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that mother's serum cholesterol (odds ratio [OR], 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–4.78), child obesity defined by weight-for-height Z-score > +2SD (OR, 2.56; 95%CI: 1.33–4.98), and child's energy intake ≥75th percentile (OR, 2.59; 95%CI: 1.01–6.66) were the significant factors associated with hypercholesterolemia in children.
Conclusion: Hypercholesterolemia in school children is associated with familial factor, bodyweight and nutrient intake. Elevated blood cholesterol was also found in some of the normal-weight and wasted children. Effective family-based intervention programs are urgently needed to modify risk factors predisposing to coronary heart disease.     

Iron and zinc supplementation improved iron and zinc status, but not physical growth, of apparently healthy, breast-fed infants in rural communities of northeast Thailand

Iron deficiency is prevalent in children and infants worldwide. Zinc deficiency may be prevalent, but data are lacking. Both iron and zinc deficiency negatively affect growth and psychomotor development. Combined iron and zinc supplementation might be beneficial, but the potential interactions need to be verified. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial using 2 x 2 factorial design, 609 Thai infants aged 4-6 mo were supplemented daily with 10 mg of iron and/or 10 mg of zinc for 6 mo to investigate effects and interactions on micronutrient status and growth. Iron supplementation alone increased hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations more than iron and zinc combined. Anemia prevalence was significantly lower in infants receiving only iron than in infants receiving iron and zinc combined. Baseline iron deficiency was very low, and iron deficiency anemia was almost nil. After supplementation, prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia were significantly higher in infants receiving placebo and zinc than in those receiving iron or iron and zinc. Serum zinc was higher in infants receiving zinc (16.7 +/- 5.2 micromol/L), iron and zinc (12.1 +/- 3.8 micromol/L) or iron alone (11.5 +/- 2.5 micromol/L) than in the placebo group (9.8 +/- 1.9 micromol/L). Iron and zinc interacted to affect iron and zinc status, but not hemoglobin. Iron supplementation had a small but significant effect on ponderal growth, whereas zinc supplementation did not. To conclude, in Thai infants, iron supplementation improved hemoglobin, iron status, and ponderal growth, whereas zinc supplementation improved zinc status. Overall, for infants, combined iron and zinc supplementation is preferable to iron or zinc supplementation alone.