The role of an experimental model as a predictor of morbility in children

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2006-03, Vol.20 (4), p.A622-A622
• Main Authors: Ponce, Graciela, Fajardo, M, Gamba, C, Bermudez, E, Rodriguez, P, Friedman, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.A622-b

Children nutritional assessment by a food record remains controversial. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements are highly accurate. However, an animal model may predict and identify individuals at risk. We observed that some children despite no having evidence of inadequacies in body proportions, body composition, biochemical profile or dietary intake, showed a significant reduction in serum IGF I levels. In order to assess these discrepancies, a children population (aged 2 to 8) of the Southern of Argentina (Comodoro Rivadavia, province of Chubut) was studied. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical determinations and habitual food ingestion were collected. From 91 children attending a food program, 8% achieved low weights (W=‐1.93 ± 0.42) and heights (H=‐1.87 ± 0.24) (OMS, 2001), with appropriate WHZ (‐1.14 ± 0.54); % body fat within normal range, and an adequate intake of energy, protein, heme iron, calcium and vitamin A according RDA, but serum IGF I decreased significantly (129.4 ± 83.9 ng/ml, p