Posted by James
Findings resulted from our study of the relation of nutritional status and pulmonary function in rural Fulani males as compared to urban males. First, there was a significant difference in the nutritional status of the two study populations as assessed by weight, BMI, mid-arm circumference, and triceps skin-fold thickness measurements. Although the mean heights of both groups were identical (1.70 m), the Fulani men weighed, on average, about 9 kg less than their urban counterparts, which translated into a mean difference in BMI between the two study populations of 3.1 kg/m2. In light of the observed difference in BMI, it was not unexpected, therefore, to find that mid-arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness were also decreased in the Fulani men, since mid-arm circumference and triceps skin-fold thickness are indices of muscle mass and subcutaneous fat, respectively. The anthropometric variations we observed between these two groups of subjects corresponded with observations made in previous studies of these same populations.
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Posted by James
Comments on the Study Population
The study subjects were well-matched with respect to age: the mean ages of the urban subjects (Jos) and rural Fulani were 39.6 ± 11.7 and 35.0 ± 14.8 years, respectively, with no significant difference between the mean ages of the two groups. The mean heights of the men in the two groups were identical at 1.70 m (Table 1). However, on average, the Fulani men weighed about 9 kg less than the males in Jos (58.5 ± 9.4 versus 67.4 ±11.3 kg, respectively, pO.001). Consequently, the BMI was lower in the Fulani men (20.3 ± 2.5 versus 23.4 ± 3.5 kg/m2, respectively, p<0.001). To obtain information about body composition, the mid-arm circumference, which is proportional to lean body mass, and triceps skin-fold thickness, which is proportional to body fat, were measured. Both parameters were significantly lower in the Fulani subjects compared with the urban males: the mean mid-arm circumference and triceps skin-fold thickness in the rural Fulani and Jos subjects were 25.0 ± 2.2, 27.6 ± 3.5 cm (p<0.001); and 5.23 ± 1.4, 7.60 ± 3.6 mm (p<0.001), respectively.
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Posted by James
Study Population
The study population consisted of 28 adult males from the city of Jos and 44 adult Fulani males from Magama Gumau, a hamlet situated approximately 60 km east of Jos. The Jos subjects, which consisted primarily of individuals from the Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Berom ethnic groups, were recruited from among the staff of the Jos University Teaching Hospital and their relatives. Individuals with a history of tobacco use or who had an upper respiratory infection in the previous six weeks were excluded from the study. Data were collected on location between June and August of 2002, which coincides with the rainy season in Nigeria. Informed consent was obtained for all subjects. The study was approved by the University of New Mexico School of Medicine Human Research Review Committee and the Jos University Teaching Hospital Human Ethics Committee.
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Posted by James
INTRODUCTION
The Fulani are seminomadic herders of the western Sahel whose culture and economy are centered on their cattle. Adult Fulani men have a highly active lifestyle because of their constant trekking to obtain pasture and water for their cattle. In a previous study of the cattle Fulani of the Jos plateau of central Nigeria, we found that active herdsmen in the age range of 16 to 40 years were characteristically very lean: their fat-free mass (FFM) averaged 87.3%, while their fat content was relatively low at 12.7%. In addition, the caloric intake of the Fulani men was surprisingly low (1,668 kCal), especially in light of the physically demanding nature of their work. With regard to diet, more than half of their caloric intake was derived from fat, of which more than half again was accounted for by saturated fatty acids.
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Posted by James
This study, which consisted predominantly of African-American children, demonstrated that inner-city children are more likely to be overweight com pared with other children. Fifty-three percent of children in this study were that caloric intake is similar in children with or without asthma but that children with asthma are more likely to have exercise-induced bronchospasm. The latter is related to the amount of subcutaneous fat in the bodies of asthmatic children. Exercise-induced bronchospasm may lead to an aversion to exercise, with subsequent risk of overweight and obesity. This is despite the fact that resting energy expenditure, which makes up the largest contribution to total energy expenditure, is greater in children with asthma when compared with children without asthma. These data indicate that increases in overweight and obesity in children with asthma may be related to decreases in physical activity.
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Posted by James
One-hundred-nine children were included in the study. Eleven children were excluded because of unacceptable pulmonary function tests. The demographics and other characteristics are shown in Table 2. Overall, 58 children (53%) were overweight (BMI >85th percentile). Girls were more likely to be overweight (35/61, 57%) compared with boys (24/48, 50%); however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.46). Eighteen (17%) children were diagnosed with asthma by a physician, but spirometry parameters were consistent with a diagnosis of asthma in only two of these 18 children. There was not a statistically significant difference between the overweight (8/58, 14%) and lean children (9/51, 18%) with regard to a physician diagnosis of asthma(p=0.412), nor was there a statistically significant association between asthma symptoms and the diagnosis of asthma based on spirometry.
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Posted by James
Spirometry (pre- and postbronchodilator) was assessed using a flow-sensitive spirometer (Renaissance II; Puritann-Bennett, Carlsbad, CA). A respiratory therapist who was experienced in performing spirometry in children conducted all tests, and all tests conformed to the criteria of the American Thoracic Society. All tests were performed between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The following parameters were measured: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVi) and forced expiratory flow at midlung volume (FEF25-75). The ratio of FEVi to FVC (FEVi/FVC) was calculated. All values were adjusted for body temperature and barometric pressure. Percent predicted values for FVC,
Table 1. Questionnaires used to elicit symptoms of asthma
1. Wheezing at any time
2. Wheezing with exercise
3. Wheezing while sleeping
4. Cough at night
5. A severe attack of wheezing requiring emergency department visit
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