Abstract
Twenty-nine children in the Head Start program were referred for evaluation of short stature after preliminary screening by nutrition aides, three months after starting school. This group comprised 18 Hispanos, 3 Negroes and 8 Anglos (15 males and 14 females) with a mean age of 4.4 years (range 3.2-6.4 years). The height was <3P in 26/29 children and weight <3P in 19/29. Physical abnormalities included multiple cavities (4/29), hepatomegaly (4/29), cardiac murmurs (4/29), stigmata of rickets (4/29), and skin or mucosal changes compatible with Vitamin A deficiency in 5/29. Normal laboratory parameters included: hematocrits (39.8% ± 2.65), urinalyses, serum Ca, Alk. Phos., BUN, total protein and serum albumin. Vitamin A levels were <30μg% in 18 patients and <20μg% in 9 of these. Vitamin C levels were <.5mg% in 2. The mean hair zinc concentration was 105 ± 4ppm, lower than control children of similar age (p <0.01). Low hair zinc levels (<70ppm) were present in 8 and low plasma zinc levels (<70μg/100ml) in 4 children.
The present study demonstrates inadequate vitamin and trace mineral nutrition or metabolism in 50% of this Head Start group of children with short stature, emphasizing the need for medical and nutritional attention in this high risk group.
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Walravens, P., Hambidge, K., Glasgow, A. et al. NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF HEAD START CHILDREN WITH SHORT STATURE. Pediatr Res 8, 386 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00278
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00278
