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Effect of high altitude on protein metabolism in Bolivian children

Jose L San Miguel1, Hilde Spielvogel, Jacques Berger

  • 1Instituto Boliviano de Biología de Altura, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, P.O. Box 641 La Paz, Bolivia. josanto10@yahoo.es

High Altitude Medicine & Biology
|March 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

High altitude negatively impacts protein metabolism in Bolivian children, reducing protein absorption and utilization. This study investigated how altitude affects children's protein utilization using stable isotope tracers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Altitude Physiology
  • Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

  • Malnutrition in Bolivian children is a significant health issue, potentially linked to environmental stressors like high altitude.
  • Limited data exists on protein absorption and utilization at high altitudes, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • High altitude environments present unique physiological challenges, including hypoxia and altered metabolic demands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of high altitude on protein metabolism in healthy Bolivian children.
  • To compare protein utilization between children living at high altitude (HA) and low altitude (LA).
  • To investigate the role of altitude as a factor influencing protein absorption and utilization.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a stable isotope tracer, L-(1-(13)C) leucine, to measure protein utilization.
  • Administered intrinsically labeled casein to two groups of healthy prepubertal children (n=10 each).
  • Measured expired (13)CO(2) via isotope ratio mass spectrometry to quantify leucine oxidation at 300 minutes post-ingestion.

Main Results:

  • Children at high altitude (La Paz, 3600 m) showed significantly lower cumulative leucine oxidation (19.7%) compared to children at low altitude (Santa Cruz, 420 m) (25.2%).
  • Nutritional status was similar between groups, but the high-altitude group exhibited higher hemoglobin concentration.
  • The findings indicate a significant difference in protein absorption and/or utilization between the high-altitude and low-altitude groups.

Conclusions:

  • High altitude significantly affects protein metabolism in Bolivian children, leading to reduced protein utilization.
  • Altitude should be considered a critical environmental factor influencing nutritional status and protein metabolism in pediatric populations.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which altitude impacts protein absorption and utilization.

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