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Trichuriasis and low-iron status in schoolchildren from Northwest Mexico

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 1108–1115 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between trichuriasis and iron status in rural schoolchildren from Northwest Mexico.

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 73 schoolchildren (37 boys, 36 girls) between the ages of 6 and 10 years were voluntarily recruited from the public primary school of the rural community of El Higueral in Culiacan, Sinaloa (Northwest Mexico) for a cross-sectional study with a longitudinal follow-up of 5 weeks. Data were collected on socioeconomic status, anthropometry, haematological and biochemical indices of iron status, daily iron intake, and prevalence and intensity of trichuriasis. Multiple regression models, independent t-test and paired t-test were used to analyse the association between trichuriasis and iron status in cross-sectional and longitudinal samples, respectively. Adjusted models were tested for linear regression assumptions using residual plots.

Results:

The mean age of the Trichuris-free and Trichuris-infected groups was 7.7±1.3 and 7.7±1.5 years respectively (P=0.92). The height for age was significantly higher in the Trichuris-free group than the Trichuris-infected group (P=0.02). No differences were found in the socioeconomic variables between the two groups. At baseline, significantly higher concentrations of haemoglobin, haematocrit, blood cell count (RBC) and serum iron were measured in the Trichuris-free group compared with the Trichuris-infected children (P<0.05). An association was found between trichuriasis and haemoglobin adjusted for socioeconomic variables, age and sex. Haemoglobin, RBC and serum ferritin concentrations were significantly increased in the infected children 5 weeks after treatment (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

Trichuriasis could be a risk factor for low-iron status in the schoolchildren of Northwest Mexico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Nutrition and Health, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo AC, Sonora, México

    L Quihui-Cota, G G Morales-Figueroa, J Esparza-Romero, M E Valencia, H Astiazarán-García, R O Méndez & B I Pacheco-Moreno

  2. Department of Zoology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    D W T Crompton

  3. Department of Biological Sciences and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán Sinaloa, México

    S P Diaz-Camacho

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  1. L Quihui-Cota
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Correspondence to L Quihui-Cota.

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Competing interests

The study protocol was approved by the research and ethical review boards of the Center of Research on Food and Development (CIAD) unit of Hermosillo Sonora, and the Health Public Department of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa, in Mexico. Informed consent was obtained from children's parents or legal guardians. RIMSA Laboratories, which sponsored the drug albendazole used in this study, did not participate in the study protocol, analysis of results, manuscript redaction, the reference used and the journal selection for publication. In addition, none of the authors had commercial links or work relationship with RIMSA Laboratories at the time of the study development. The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología CONACYT), the University of Glasgow, the Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa, the Secretaría de Educación Pública and the Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo AC provided economic support to this study and they had no competing interests for the study development. Luis Quihui-Cota was a recipient of a research scholarship from CONACYT and he declares that the work described in this study is a part of the entire work of his PhD thesis. In addition, it is entirely of his own composition and was not in whole or part submitted for any other degree or international or national publication. In fact, results were re-analysed by an expert using the most appropriate statistical methods and revised by the authors. All authors have knowledge about it and the participant institutions have signed copies of the technical reports sent to CONACYT by Luis Quihui Cota as a supported PhD student of the University of Glasgow. Therefore, the authors do not have competing or financial interests in publishing this study. If complete information for academic purposes is required from the PhD thesis of Luis Quihui, a special authorization must be requested to the Head of the Division of Infection and Immunity of the University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.

Additional information

Guarantor: DWT Crompton and SP Diaz-Camacho. Contributors: LQC was the project leader and carried out most of the design, fieldwork, sample and data collection, parasitological and biochemical analysis, and writing of the paper. GGM carried out the data collection and preparation of the database and the paper. JER carried out the statistical analysis, data interpretation and writing of the paper. MEV supervised, assessed and supported the field study and wrote some parts of the paper. HA-G contributed with the data interpretation and writing of the paper. RO-M contributed with the data interpretation and writing of the paper. BIP-M contributed with the haematological and biochemical analyses. DWTC supervised the field study and assessed the writing content of the paper. SPD-C contributed with the design and logistic coordination of the study.

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Quihui-Cota, L., Morales-Figueroa, G., Esparza-Romero, J. et al. Trichuriasis and low-iron status in schoolchildren from Northwest Mexico. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 1108–1115 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.146

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