Abstract

GERARDO WEISSTAUB, Sergio et al. Nutritional status of iron, copper and zinc in children of Tocopaya, Bolivia. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2004, vol.43, n.2, pp.77-80. ISSN 1024-0675.

Nutritional status of iron, copper and zinc is not clear in school age children in Bolivia. A prospective, transectional study was carried out in 112 apparently healthy children of Quechua origin (58 girls), living in Tacopaya (3100m altitude). Weight/Height and Height/Age were measured and blood samples were drawn to determine hemoglobin, iron, copper, zinc and ferritin in plasma, and zinc in hair. Anemia was defined by age and corrected by altitude. Mean (range) W/H and H/A were 0,18 Z score (-3,2 to 2,3) and ­1,8 Z score (-3,4 to 2,0), respectively.­In 41% height was below -2Z score. Six children (5%) were anemic, in 2 ferritin values were below <10ug/dL. Plasma copper concentrations were normal, but in 2% were below 90 ug/L. Zinc was below <80ug/L in 61% of cases. Zinc content in hair was below 100ug/g in 26%, with no correlation between these results and those in plasma. Because of the discordance between iron and zinc deficiencies, two randomly chosen samples of bread and 2 samples of wheat flour were analyzed for iron; results showed that iron concentration was 8.9 mg Fe/100g, with little variation between the two samples, which may explain the findings obtained. In conclusion, the school age children assessed revealed low prevalence of iron deficiency, high prevalence of zinc deficiency and 2% of marginal copper deficiency.

Keywords : nutrition; iron; zinc; copper; children; Bolivia.