HPLC was used to determine α- and γ-tocopherol content in selected foods commonly consumed in the Mexican diet and to study losses due to cooking. Raw corn was high in total tocopherol content (8.1 mg/100 g), but processing into tortillas destroyed almost all of the tocopherols. Legumes were high in γ-tocopherol content. Almonds were high in α-tocopherol content with 22.3 mg/100 g and low in γ-tocopherol content (0.3 mg/100 g). Pecans showed the reverse trend with 0.7 mg/100 g of α- and 9.2 mg/100 g of γ-tocopherol. Peanuts had high levels of both α- and γ-tocopherol (8.2 and 7.9 mg/100 g, respectively). The cooking loss for most grains ranged from 22 to 55%, while that for legumes ranged from 9% for the garbanzo bean to 59% for the bayo bean. Vegetable oils were high in total vitamin E content and contributed the most vitamin E activity (1.3 mg/d), in the Mexican diet. Corn tortillas were low in vitamin E activity (0.03 mg/100 g) but due to their high intake in the Mexican diet, along with pinto beans, contributed to the total vitamin E intake. Neither diet met the recommended RDA intake; the high- and low-income diets provided 16.7 and 14.6%, respectively. Keywords: α- and γ-tocopherol; Mexican diet; cooking losses

BackgroundBoth giardiasis and zinc deficiency are serious health problems worldwide. In Mexico, the prevalence of G. intestinalis was estimated at 32% in 1994. It remains a health problem in northwestern Mexico. Recent surveys (1987, 1995, and 1999) reported zinc deficiency in the Mexican population. The association of giardiasis and malabsorption of micronutrients has been well documented, although the association with zinc remains controversial. This study investigated the association between giardiasis and zinc deficiency in schoolchildren from northwestern Mexico.MethodsWe combined a cross-sectional design with a longitudinal follow-up six months after parasite treatment. The baseline sample consisted of 114 schoolchildren (mean age 8.8 yr) from seven suburban public schools, grouped as Giardia-free (n = 65, 57%) and Giardia-infected (n = 49, 43%). Three stool analyses per child were done using Faust's method. Children with giardiasis received secnidazole. Serum zinc was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Height and weight were measured. Socioeconomic information was obtained in an oral questionnaire, and daily zinc intake was assessed using 24 hour-recalls. Pearson's correlation and ANCOVA and paired t-test analyses were used to determine the association between giardiasis and zinc status.ResultsLongitudinal analysis demonstrated a significant increase of the mean serum zinc levels in the Giardia-infected group six months after treatment (13.78 vs. 19.24 μmol/L μmol/L; p = 0.001), although no difference was found between the Giardia-free and the Giardia-infected groups (p = 0.86) in the baseline analysis. Z scores for W/A and H/A were lower in the Giardia-infected than in the Giardia-free group (p < 0.05). No difference was observed in the socioeconomic characteristics and mean daily intakes of zinc between the groups (p > 0.05).ConclusionsGiardiasis may be a risk factor for zinc deficiency in schoolchildren from northwestern Mexico.

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency (VAD) continues to be a major nutritional problem in developing countries, including Central America. In Mexico, milk is a well-accepted vehicle for the administration of micronutrients, including VA, to preschoolers. Thus, we conducted a randomized, controlled, clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of daily consumption of 250 mL of VA-fortified milk (which provided 196 retinol equivalents/d) for 3 mo on VA stores in mildly to moderately VAD (serum retinol concentration 0.35-0.7 μmol/L) preschoolers who were not enrolled in a food assistance program. Twenty-seven mildly to moderately VAD children were randomly assigned based on screening measurements to either the intervention (n = 14) or control group (n = 13) (children in the control group did not receive placebo). All children in the control group and 79% (n = 11) of the children in the intervention group completed the study. The total body VA (TBVA) pool size was estimated using the deuterated retinol dilution technique before and after the intervention. After 3 mo, median changes in the serum retinol concentration for the intervention and control groups were 0.13 and -0.21 μmol/L, respectively (P = 0.009). Median changes in the TBVA stores were 0.06 and 0.01 mmol, respectively (P = 0.006) and estimated median changes in the liver VA concentration were 0.09 and 0.01 μmol/g, respectively (P = 0.002). The VA-fortified milk was well accepted among preschoolers and significantly increased TBVA stores, liver VA stores, and serum retinol concentration, indicating that it may be an effective means to ameliorate VAD in young Mexican children.

Objective: The aims of this study were to validate BOD POD in a wide sample of healthy and independent Mexican elderly men and women subjects using the 4 compartment (4C) model as the reference method, and to evaluate the assumptions of the densitometric two-compartment (2C) model. Design: Cross-sectional study designed to assess body composition and validation of a method based on 2C model (BOD POD). Setting: Urban and rural regions of Sonora, Mexico. Subjects: Two hundred and two free-living subjects X60 years old were completed in this study. Methods: Body density and body fat were measured by the BOD POD, total body water by deuterium dilution and total body bone ash by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body composition was determined using Baumgartner's equation. Results: Percent body fat by the 4C model was 31.2 and 42.5% in men and women, respectively (Po0.001). Group mean accuracy of body fat by BOD POD against that of the 4C model showed an effect of sex (Po0.001), but not the method (P ¼ 0.27). Results of individual accuracy showed no significant difference with the identity line and the slope was significantly different from zero or a slope similar to one. Precision assessed by model R 2 was high for all subjects and for men and women by separate. The standard error of the estimate was low for all and for men and women by separate. Bland and Altman analysis showed no significant bias. Conclusion: The BOD POD technique is a valid and reliable method compared to the 4C model and it could be applied in subjects with similar physical and anthropometric characteristics to subjects of this study.

SummaryIn spite of advances in immunology on mycobacterial infection, there are few studies on the role of anti-microbial peptides in tuberculosis. The cathelinrelated anti-microbial peptide (CRAMP) is the only cathelicidin isolated from mice. In this work we investigated the cellular sources and the production kinetics of this molecule during experimental tuberculosis, using two wellcharacterized models of latent or chronic infection and progressive disease. The lung of non-infected control mice expressed CRAMP at very low levels. In both models of experimental tuberculosis the main cells immunolabelled for CRAMP were bronchial epithelial cells, macrophages and pneumocytes types II and I. After intratracheal infection with a high bacilli dose (H37Rv strain) in Balb/c mice to produce progressive disease, a high CRAMP gene expression was induced showing three peaks: very early after 1 day of infection, at day 21 when the peak of protective immunity in this model is raised, and at day 28 when the progressive phase starts and the immunoelectronmicroscopy study showed intense immunolabelling in the cell wall and cytoplasm of intracellular bacilli, as well as in cytoplasmic vacuoles. Interestingly, at day 60 postinfection, when advanced progressive disease is well established, characterized by high bacillary loads and extensive tissue damage, CRAMP gene expression decreased but strong CRAMP immunostaining was detected in vacuolated macrophages filled with bacilli. Thus, cathelecidin is highly produced during experimental pulmonary tuberculosis from diverse cellular sources and could have significant participation in its pathogenesis.