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Biomedical subjects

A Cordano

Publications and source records attributed to A Cordano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical manifestations of nutritional copper deficiency in infants and children.

A series of reports in the 1960s highlighted nutritional copper deficiencies in infants and children recovering from malnutrition in Peru; since that time, a cascade of additional cases in premature infants, in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition, and in those receiving special diets or unmodified cow milk have been reported. The identification by Danks that Menkes syndrome, a genetically determined defect in copper absorption and utilization, is responsible for the observed clinical manifestations provided further insight into the physiopathologic effects of copper deficiency. New information on the metabolism and physiologic role of copper, plus the identification of additional copper metalloenzymes and improvement in how to determine copper status, has fueled interpretation and speculation on how and why the classic signs of copper deficiency occur, as well as on the possible effects of mild deficiencies. Also under scrutiny are potential interactions between other elements and the effects of other elements, even when given in acceptable amounts, on copper status. There should be no constraints in thinking on other possible effects of impaired copper status in humans. I review some of the history of nutritional copper deficiency in infants and children and attempt to interpret some of the clinical manifestations in light of newly acquired information.

Animals↗

Evaluation of two iron-fortified, milk-based formulas during infancy.

OBJECTIVE: Compare milk-based, iron-fortified formulas containing 7.4 and 12.7 mg/L iron and breast-feeding during the first year of life. DESIGN: Partially randomized, double-blind trial: non-breast-fed infants randomly assigned to receive one of two coded formulas, identical except for iron content; infants discontinuing breast-feeding between 1 and 8 weeks of age randomly assigned to a formula late-start group. SETTING: Five general community pediatric practices in Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: Sample of 347 healthy, term infants, enrolled within 1 week after birth; 172 included in statistical analyses. OUTCOME MEASURES: Length, weight, and indicators of formula intolerance recorded at clinic visits; formula consumption, bowel movements, stool consistency, and other tolerance indicators recorded by parents on daily and weekly report forms; hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum ferritin, iron zinc, and copper measured at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: No significant differences between formula-fed groups in growth, attrition, formula consumption, bowel movements, hematocrit, hemoglobin level, and serum iron, zinc, and copper levels (P > .05); first 6-month weight and length changes of the breast-fed group significantly less than in both formula-fed groups (P < .008); serum ferritin level of the formula-fed, high-iron group significantly higher than that of the low-iron and breast-fed groups (P < .008), although all groups' values were normal; no apparent differences between formula groups in formula tolerance and stool characteristics but data were not analyzed statistically. CONCLUSIONS: Milk-based formulas containing either 7.4 or 12.7 mg/L iron support normal growth and iron status of healthy, term, normally fed infants during the first year and both are well tolerated and accepted.

Copper↗

Refeeding of infants with acute diarrheal disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine which infant formula among five would be the most efficacious for the refeeding of infants during an acute episode of diarrhea. Fifty male infants less than 12 months of age with severe diarrhea and at least 5% dehydration were admitted to a metabolic unit and studied in a prospective, single-blind protocol. Ten infants randomly received one of five types of formula: two-thirds diluted cow milk, cow milk formula (Nanon, Nestle, Inc., São Paulo, Brazil), Portagen, Pregestimil, or Prosobee (Mead Johnson & Co. Division, Evansville, Ind.). They continued to receive the same formula for 72 hours unless dehydration occurred. There were no associated infections, and they received no prior antibiotic treatment. Oral hydration together with intravenous fluid therapy was given to all patients during the initial treatment. During the first 72 hours of refeeding, patients fed Portagen excreted the least amount of stool and required reduced quantities of intravenous fluids or oral hydration. In contrast, patients fed diluted cow milk or any other formula had more severe diarrhea. Nine of the 10 patients fed Portagen completed the 72-hour treatment, whereas only 2 of 10 fed diluted cow milk tolerated it. Similarly, the cumulative proportions for high purging rate, dehydration, carbohydrate intolerance, and vomiting were more favorable for Portagen and least acceptable for diluted cow milk. No differences were found among the remaining three formulas tested. These data show that diluted cow milk is poorly tolerated by infants with severe diarrhea, whereas Portagen is more effective.

Acute Disease↗

The response to dietary treatment of patients with chronic post-infectious diarrhea and lactose intolerance.

The response to dietary treatment of patients with chronic post-infectious diarrhea and lactose intolerance was prospectively studied in 29 infants less than 1 year of age. All had gastroenteritis with diarrhea which persisted for more than 3 weeks. In the hospital, diarrhea continued and lactose intolerance was documented while being fed half-strength cow's milk formula. They were given dietary treatment with one of three formulas used for treatment of diarrhea in infancy. Improvement of diarrhea was more frequently achieved with Pregestimil when given as the initial therapy than with the other two formulas. With Pregestimil nine of 10 patients improved whereas only four of nine infants fed Portagen and one of 10 patients initially treated with soy formula improved. Pregestimil was also effective in three of five patients who initially failed to improve with Portagen and in four of eight patients tried with soy formula with or without carbohydrate. Additionally, in the patients who improved, recovery was more rapidly achieved with Pregestimil than with the other two formulas. Formula failures were due to intolerance to glucose polymers in three patients, possibly to protein in seven infants, and an intolerance to all nutrients in five patients. The improvement of the diarrhea was slower in patients who had evidence of colitis in rectal biopsies regardless of the dietary treatment given, but was not correlated with other variables, i.e., etiology of diarrhea, jejunal histology, or duration of diarrhea prior to treatment. However, as a group, the patients who failed to respond to Pregestimil were younger (less than 3 months of age), had more formula changes and associated infections, and were given more antibiotics; they also had more prolonged diarrhea before treatment and more severe jejunal mucosal lesions and jejunal bacterial overgrowth. The data suggests that Pregestimil seems to be the most effective formula for the treatment of infants with chronic post-infectious diarrhea and lactose intolerance.

Age Factors↗

Acceptability, tolerance, and nutritional value of a rice-based infant formula.

An infant formula based on high protein rice flour, with added lysine and threonine, was evaluated in recovering malnourished infants. Acceptability, tolerance, and the digestibility of most major nutrients (energy 93.9 +/- 0.7%, fat 96.9 +/- 0.3%, carbohydrate 96.8 +/- 0.6% of intake) were excellent. Digestibility of protein, as with all rice products, was moderately low (80.1 +/- 3.3%), but its high biological value made N retention equal to that from casein. Plasma-free amino acids were consistent with the low essential/total amino acids ratio found in cereals, with slower absorption, and with the possibility that leucine was the first-limiting amino acid. Absorptions of Ca, Mg, PO4, and Zn were considered satisfactory. Energy costs of weight gain and the estimated percentage N in the weight gained during 14 days were comparable to those attained with the highest quality cow's milk-derived formulas in children of similar ages and nutritional status.

Diarrhea, Infantile↗

Nutritional balance studies: evaluation of a premature infant formula.

A 24 kcal/oz (81 kcal/100 ml) premature infant formula (Enfamil Premature Formula) with moderately high mineral content (117 mg Ca/100 ml and 58 mg P/100 ml) and a protein content of 3 g/100 kcal was evaluated in sixteen 3-day balance studies at 10 and 21 days of age in nine premature infants with birth weights from 1,200 to 1,400 g. Growth rates were similar to in utero rates, and the formula was well accepted and tolerated. Calcium retention (62.5%) was similar to in utero accretion, and phosphorus retention was only slightly lower. Nitrogen retention was high without the development of metabolic acidosis or abnormal serum urea nitrogen levels.

Calcium↗

Growth and tolerance studies of a new infant formula.

A new routine infant formula has been developed and clinically tested. The clinical study reported here involved 337 normal newborns cared for by six private pediatric group practices. Infants were examined regularly by the investigators until six months of age. Serum biochemistries, hematology, and growth and tolerance variables were compared to infants fed control formulas and to reported values for breast-fed infants. This new formulation compared favorably, in all areas studied here, to controls and previously reported values.

Blood Proteins↗

Nutritional supplementation of pregnant adolescents.

Disadvantaged pregnant black teenagers have a higher proportion of low-birth-weight infants and their offspring have a lower mean birth weight. One hundred and fifty-seven pregnant adolescents enrolled in a Baltimore public school for pregnant teenagers were studied to determine the impact of a nutritional supplement on pregnancy outcome. Seventy-eight students voluntarily agreed to receive a nutritional supplement; 79 comparably matched students did not receive the supplement. The supplement Sustacal provided a mean intake of 8691 cal with 530 g of protein and additional vitamins and minerals over an average period of 15.1 weeks. This supplement was associated with a significant increase of 157 g in the mean infant birth weight (P less than 0.05). A significant increase in infant birth weight of 269 g was noted in the offspring of supplemented girls below 16 years of age compared with the nonsupplemented girls below this age (P less than 0.05). Significant differences in infant birth weight were also noted in the offspring of nonsmoking supplemented adolescents (P less than 0.05). The proportion of low-birth-weight infants was decreased in the supplemented subjects, but the difference was not significant.

Adolescent↗

Fecal characteristics in healthy young adults consuming defined liquid diets or a free-choice diet.

Fat and nitrogen absorption and fecal characteristics were studied in 10 healthy, young adults who ingested a free-choice diet for 12 days and then isocaloric amounts of one of two nutritionally complete liquid defined formula diets during a succeeding 12-day period. Apparent fat absorption was 98 to 99% of intake with both defined formula diets and 95% of intake on the free-choice diet. Nitrogen digestibility was determined during the liquid diet period, and averaged 95 to 98% of intake. There were no statistically significant differences between the liquid diets and the free-choice diets with respect to fecal wet or dry weight, transit time, or stool frequency. Individual stool weights averaged 83 to 96 g on the free-choice or liquid formula diets and were comparable to other values reported in the literature. These results support the theory that a critical volume of feces must accumulate in the colon before defecation occurs, regardless of diet composition.

Absorption↗

Nutritive value of elemental formula with reduced osmolality.

The osmolality of an elemental formula was reduced from 627 to 338 mOsm/kg H2O by replacing dextrose with corn syrup solids, reducing the content of casein hydrolysate, and replacing a portion of the medium-chain triglycerides with corn oil. In three convalescent malnourished infants, the protein quality of the formula was compared at isonitrogenous levels with that of a casein-sucrose-vegetable oil formula and was found to be at least as high: in all three nitrogen retention was higher than during a preceding casein period, and in one of the three it was also higher than during a following casein period. The levels of postprandial plasma amino acids suggested that threonine might be the first-limiting amino acid. Four severely malnourished infants received the formula as their only food during initial rehabilitation. The formula was well tolerated and supported satisfactory weight gain, linear growth, and serum protein regeneration.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Blood glucose rise after lactose tolerance testing in infants.

Lactose tolerance tests are used clinically to screen children and infants. It is assumed that absorption of a lactose challenge in infants would occur in a predictable pattern prior to weaning. Twenty-one infants from 3 to 12 months of age were studied. The maximum blood glucose rise over fasting levels ranged from 11.0 to 62.0 mg/100 ml; the mean was 32.6 mg/100 ml. Six infants had a maximum rise of less than 20 mg/100 ml. Eleven infants (52%) had a maximum rise of greater than 30 mg/100 ml. Signs of intolerance were not noted in any subject. Weight and length were normally disturbed. Results indicate the variance in glucose rise existing within a population of infants growing normally and consuming milk. Gastric emptying, digestion, and absorption may influence the blood glucose rise after a lactose test. Established glucose levels used as an index to lactose absorption in older children and adults may not accurately reflect lactase activity in infants.

Blood Glucose↗

Pharmacokinetics and effects on fecal blood loss of a controlled release potassium chloride tablet.

A slow-release tablet containing 12.5 mEq of potassium chloride was compared with a potassium chloride solution in normal human subjects under controlled conditions. Changes in plasma potassium concentration and rates of urinary potassium excretion indicate the tablet is absorbed in a slow, sustained fashion in contrast to the solution. Net potassium excretion after single and multiple doses indicates that the amount of potassium absorbed from the slow-release tablet is comparable to the solution. The slow-release potassium chloride tablets were well tolerated and were effective in correcting experimentally induced potassium depletion of moderate severity. Gastrointestinal tract irritation was not apparent and fecal 51Cr red blood cell loss after the tablet and the solution were of the same order.

Adolescent↗