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In a group of 130 women of fertile age (24.5 +/- 2.7 years), the consumption of meat and meat products was evaluated in order to determine the effect of this food group on blood and biochemical parameters that act as indicators of iron status, and on a range of serum lipid parameters that indicate cardiovascular risk. Food intake was monitored using a "Food Record" for seven days, including a Sunday. Subjects were divided into two groups: those who took > or = 100 g/day of meat (25th percentile) (high consumption--HC) (n = 102), and those with lesser intakes (low consumption--LC) (n = 28). Dietary data were adjusted to take into account differences in discrepancies in reporting between the two groups. The greater consumption of meat observed in HC subjects, despite its association with greater intakes of lipids (both in g/day and % of energy) and cholesterol (in mg/day and mg/1000 Kcal), did not seem to be related to any impairment of blood lipid profiles. Neither was it seen to be related to increased bodyweight nor raised blood pressure. It should not, therefore, bring about any increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the greater intake of thiamine, niacin, zinc and iron (total and haem) in HC subjects suggests that these may have a better nutritive status (with respect to certain nutrients) than do LC subjects. In relation to iron status. HC subjects showed higher levels of haemoglobin, haematocrit and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). These results show that restrictive criteria, with respect to the consumption of meat and meat products, could have negative repercussions on the nutritive status and health of certain groups within the population. In the female population, such criteria may be associated with impairment of iron status, without affording any greater level of protection against cardiovascular disease, or be of any help in the control of bodyweight.

The aim of this investigation was to analyse the influence of the number of meals per day on a range of cardiovascular risk factors and on the energy and nutrient intakes of a group of elderly people. The participants in this study were 150 elderly people (64 men and 86 women) from Madrid. Food intake was followed over a period of 5 days. "Precise individual weighing" was used to determine the intake of institutionalized subjects (n = 58) whilst "food intake records" were used to register the same for independent subjects (n = 92). The nutrient and energy intake of the studied population was then determined from these data. The number of meals taken was also recorded. Serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were determined using enzymatic methods. In this population, the meal most frequently omitted was breakfast. No subject took only one meal per day, though 7.4% took only two. 56.6% took three meals and 36% took four. No subject took more than four meals per day. As the number of meals taken increased, so too the covering of theoretical energy expenditure, and the intakes of a range of nutrients became closer to those recommended e.g. proteins, fibre, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium and iodine. As the number of meals taken per day increased, carbohydrate intake (in g/1000 Kcal and as % of energy) also increased, and approached recommended levels more closely. As observed in other studies, blood cholesterol levels were seen to be negatively correlated with increasing number of meals (r = -0.2297, p < 0.05). Further, those subjects who distributed their food intake more evenly throughout the day showed lower serum cholesterol (p < 0.05). VLDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05) and triacylglycerol levels (p < 0.05). The results favour the distribution of energy intake over the day as a method of improving nutritional status and as a factor that might improve blood lipid profiles.

Unlabelled: An adequate intake of folates and vitamin B12 is essential for the rapid growth rates characteristic of infancy. However, little information exists on the prevalence of deficiencies of these nutrients in preschool children. The status of these vitamins was therefore evaluated in a group of 79 children between 2 and 6 years of age. A 5 day dietary record (including a Sunday) was kept for all subjects. All food taken at day care centres was monitored using "Precise individual weighing" and recorded by trained personnel. Measurements were made of serum and erythrocyte folate levels, vitamin B12 levels, number of red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, and mean corpuscular volume. Though the mean intake of folic acid surpassed recommended levels for this age group 31.4% of the subjects showed intakes below those recommended. 7.7% of the subjects showed serum folate levels between 3 and 6 ng/mL, values which indicate a moderate deficiency of this vitamin. A correlation was found between folate intake and serum folate levels r = 0.3654 (P < 0.01). Vitamin B12 intake was 438% that recommended. Only 2.9% of the subjects showed vitamin B12 intake below recommended and none showed serum values below 150 pg/ml, the lower normal limit below which deficiency is considered to exist., Conclusion: Amongst preschool children, folate deficiency is probably much more common than vitamin B12 deficiency. However, its incidence is low, and much lower than that observed in other age groups.

A study was performed on the breakfast habits of 200 schoolchildren between 9 and 13 years of age. The subjects were classified into two groups: group C, children who consumed fortified breakfast cereals (65 boys and 35 girls), and group NC, children who did not (64 boys and 36 girls). The different dietary habits and the nutritional status of the two groups were analyzed. Haematological, biochemical, anthropometric, and dietary data were collected, the latter involving a 5-day food record. The children of the C group were found not only to have a more complete and nutritive breakfast, but also showed better dietary patterns for the rest of the day. Their lipid intake (% kJ) was lower and the carbohydrate intake (g/d and % kJ) higher than in the NC children. The intakes of thiamine, pyridoxine, folates, and beta-carotenes were also higher in group C. Better dietary habits were reflected in higher blood levels of some important compounds. Group C children had higher retinol, serum folate, and riboflavin levels than NC children. The percentage of children with hypercholesterolaemia (serum cholesterol > 4.5 mmol/l) was higher amongst those of the NC group: 37% as compared with 18% of the C children.

Dietetic, hematologic and biochemical data were used to asses the iron status of a group of 64 adolescents (37 males and 27 females), aged 15 to 18 (mean age 15.94 +/- 0.76 years), who study in a High School in the comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. All were asked to keep a dietary record during 5 days, one of which had to be a sunday. Iron intake was estimated using the Food Composition Tables of the Instituto de Nutrición (1990). The hematologic survey determined hemoglobin hematocrit mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), serum iron and serum ferritin. These data were correlated with the scores obtained in the attention and school capability test (AT), that gave information about the verbal (V), reasoning (R) and calculus (C) capabilities. There is a positive correlation between MCV (r = 0.2705), MCH (r = 0.3370) ferritin (r = 0.3383) and attention. MCV (r = 0.2995), MCH (r = 0.3998), MCHC (r = 0.3134) and ferritin (r = 0.3970) were also correlated with the speed capability shown on the attention test and the hemoglobin level was correlated with the calculus capability (r = 0.2905). The students who obtained higher scores in the school capability test had also better blood parameter values. This was statistically significant for serum ferritin in males students and for hemoglobin and MCHC in female students. 19.6% of the adolescents had ferritin levels lower than 12 ng/ml. Their intelligence test scores were lower to those who had serum ferritin > or = 12 ng/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)