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A 1983-1977 Comparison

Paul Zee, MD, PhD; Marina DeLeon, MD; Paula Roberson, PhD; Chen-Hsin Chen, PhD

JAMA. 1985;253(22):3269-3272.

Abstract
The nutritional status of preschool children from 1,219 families living in an urban poverty area was surveyed in 1983 and these results were compared with findings from a similar survey of the same community done in 1977. A second comparison was made of children whose families participated in a commodity supplementary food program and those whose families did not participate. Results of the 1983 survey indicated improvements in median serum levels of vitamins A and C, hemoglobin, and red blood cell volume. Nevertheless, 9% to 18% of the children had low or deficient levels of vitamins A, C, B₁, and B₂, hemoglobin, serum iron, and transferrin saturation. Also a greater number of the preschoolers were categorized as thin. Annual incomes for families had significantly decreased from 1977 when the median value for food recipients was $3,078 to a median of $1,848 in 1983. Considering the decrease in other resources, federal food assistance programs seem to be the only identifiable factor contributing to the improvement in nutritional status over 1977.

(JAMA 1985;253:3269-3272)

Author Affiliations
From the Divisions of Nutrition (Drs Zee and DeLeon) and Biostatistics (Drs Roberson and Chen), St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis. Dr DeLeon is now in private practice in Guatemala City. Dr Chen is now with the Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

Footnotes
Read in part before the American Society of Clinical Nutrition, Washington, DC, May 4, 1984.

Reprint requests to the Division of Nutrition, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 318, Memphis, TN 38101 (Dr Zee).

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