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Published on: August 22, 2012
Nutritional status of children of urban leprosy patients staying at preventoria based on biochemical parameters
D Chattopadhya1, K Saha, A K Chakrabarty
1Microbiology Division, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi, India.
Insights
Children of parents with leprosy exhibited nutritional deficiencies, including low folate, vitamin B12, and albumin levels, alongside anemia and delayed bone maturation. These findings highlight the need for targeted nutritional interventions in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Children separated from parents with leprosy may face unique health challenges.
- Nutritional status is crucial for growth and development, especially in children from socio-economic disadvantages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess biochemical and endocrine variables in children of leprosy patients compared to a control group.
- To identify potential nutritional deficiencies and their impact on health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical measurements of serum lipids, iron, ferritin, vitamins (folate, B12, A, E), albumin, minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphate, zinc), and thyroid hormones (T3, T4).
- Endocrine assessment of parathyroid hormone levels.
- Radiological evaluation of bone maturation.
Main Results:
- Children of leprosy patients (group A) showed significantly lower albumin, calcium, and magnesium levels, and higher phosphate levels compared to controls (group B).
- A substantial proportion of group A children had low folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A levels, and biochemical evidence of anemia.
- Both groups had low cholesterol and triglycerides; one-third of all children had low serum zinc; and many exhibited low thyroid hormone levels and elevated parathyroid hormone.
- Delayed bone maturation was observed in 11 children from group A.
Conclusions:
- Children raised in preventoria after parental leprosy diagnosis exhibit widespread nutritional deficiencies and endocrine abnormalities.
- These deficiencies, including low folate, vitamin B12, and albumin, may contribute to anemia and delayed development.
- Further research and targeted nutritional support are warranted for children affected by parental leprosy.
Abstract:
Measurements of nutritionally relevant biochemical and endocrine variables were made on 60 apparently healthy children (group A) whose parents suffered from leprosy and who had been separated at the age of 4 years and brought up in preventoria. Most of the measurements were also made on a comparison group of healthy children from the same poor socio-economic class (group B). In both groups the serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides were well below those found in Western populations. Almost all the children in both groups were anaemic, but serum iron and ferritin levels were satisfactory. Folate and vitamin B12 levels were measured in group A only and were low in a significant proportion. Deficiency of these water-soluble vitamins may be a cause of the anaemia. Low albumin levels were found in 40% of group A children, compared with 2% in group B. The concentrations of calcium and magnesium were lower and that of phosphate higher in group A than in B. In both groups one-third of the children had low levels of serum zinc. Fifteen per cent of group A children had biochemical evidence of vitamin A deficiency, but none were deficient in vitamin E. Levels of total T3 and total T4 were below the lower limit of normal in a substantial proportion of children in both groups. Concentrations of parathyroid hormone were increased in parallel with the low values for serum calcium. Radiological studies of ossification centres in 57 group A children showed delayed maturation in 11 cases. The relevance of these findings to previous studies of the children of lepers in India is discussed.
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