Nutritional Status of Selected Population Groups in Oregon. II. Biochemical Tests on the Blood of Native Born and Reared School Children in Two Regions

Abstract

This paper presents the results of determinations of serum vit. A, serum carotene, serum ascorbic acid, hemoglobin, hematocrit value, and plasma protein for 14, 15, and 16-yr.-old native born and reared school children in two geographic regions (4 counties) of Oregon. The results were analyzed to determine whether or not there were any relationships between each of the biochemical tests and age and sex of the children as well as residence, in terms of County and Region. The majority of the children had high values for all of the 6 blood constituents with the exception of serum carotene in which case about 50% of the children were classified as "fair." There were, however, an appreciable number of the subjects who rated low for several of the blood tests. By means of analysis of variance, regional differences were found in the values for serum vit. A, hemoglobin, and hematocrit value; the values for those constituents for the Central Oregon children were higher than for the children living in the Coast Region. Regional differences were not found in the values for serum carotene, serum ascorbic acid, and plasma protein. Intraregional differences and similarities were determined by analysis of variance. The values for serum vit. A for the children of Coos County were higher than those for the Clatsop County children, whereas the Clatsop County children had the higher hemoglobin values. The children of the 2 counties did not differ significantly with respect to the results of the other 4 blood constituents. Statistical analysis of the results for Deschutes and Klamath Counties revealed that the children of Klamath County had higher values than the Deschutes County children for hemoglobin and hematocrit value, whereas the children of Deschutes County had the higher values for serum carotene, serum ascorbic acid, and plasma protein. The values for serum vit. A for the children of the 2 counties did not differ significantly. When age alone was considered, there was a relationship between age and the values for serum vit. A, hemoglobin, and hematocrit value. The sex differences in hemoglobin were found to be highly significant statistically; the boys had the higher values. For boys, the values for hemoglobin increased with age. The hemoglobin values for the girls did not show an increase with age but either decreased, remained about the same, or were inconsistent with age. Correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between pairs of biochemical tests. Statistically significant correlation coefficients were obtained for serum vit. A and serum carotene, serum vit. A and serum ascorbic acid, serum vit. A and hemoglobin, serum vit. A and hematocrit value, serum carotene and serum ascorbic acid, and hemoglobin and hematocrit value. The correlation coefficients for serum vit. A and plasma protein, serum carotene and hemoglobin, serum carotene and hematocrit value, serum carotene and plasma protein, serum ascorbic acid and hemoglobin, serum ascorbic acid and hematrocrit value, serum ascorbic acid and plasma protein, hemoglobin and plasma protein and the hematocrit value and plasma protein were not statistically significant.