Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Serum mineral levels among Nepalese living in the southern agricultural Terai region

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

The physical status and serum mineral concentrations for people aged 10 to 68 years living in an agricultural southern region of Nepal were determined. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for both sexes in the 10–14 year age group were low (p<0.05. vs the other age groups) and those for the over 50-year-olds tended to be higher than the other age groups. The mean values of total proteins (TP) (8.6 ± 0.5 g/dl for males and 8.7 ± 0.6 g/dl for females) were high due to an increase of globulin (3.9 ± 0.4 g/dl for males and 4.1 ± 0.5 g/dl for females). More than three-fourths of the subjects of both sexes showed calcium (Ca) levels of 9.0–11.2 mg/dl and about 65% of them showed potassium (K) levels of 4.8–5.4 mEq/1. A significant positive correlation between DBP and serum K was observed (p<0.05). Serum inorganic phosphorus (IP) correlated with age (p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001). The serum Ca levels correlated with TP (r=0.31, p<0.001), albumin (Alb) (r=0.50, p<0.001), IP (r=0.31, p<0.001), K (r=0.32, p<0.001) and chlorine (Cl)(r=-0.37, p<0.001). Cl was associated with TP (r=-0.21, p<0.05), Alb (r=-0.36, p<0.001) and IP (r=-0.21, p<0.05). These results suggested that Ca intake for the subjects seemed to be insufficient although their serum Ca level was within normal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hirai K, Okuda T, Fukuwatari T. Observation of living of the Sherpa tribe in Nepal and their dietary survey. Rep Sei Living Osaka City Univ 1975; 23: 27–34.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hirai K, Nakayama J, Sonoda M et al. Food consumption and nutrient intake and their relationship among Nepalese. Nutr Res 1993; 13: 987–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ohno Y, Hirai K, Sato N et al. Food consumption patterns and nutrient intake among Nepalese living in the southern rural Terai region. Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr 1997; 6: 251–5.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hirai K, Okuno Y, Nagata K et al. Nutritional survey on the serum status of lipid, protein, and calcium levels in Nepalese. J Clin Biochem Nutr 1990; 9: 205–13.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hirai K, Takagi E, Okuno Y et al. The serum status of tocopherol and retinol and their relation to lipids in persons aged 10–72 in Nepal. Nutr Res 1993; 13: 369–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ohno Y, Hirai K, Nagata K et al. Evaluation of the iron status in Nepalese living in southern Nepal. Nutr Res 1998; 18: 1847–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dahl LK, Leitl G, Heine M. Influence of dietary potassium and sodium/potassium molar ratio in the development of salt hypertension. J Exp Med 1972; 136: 318–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. MacGreor GA. Smith SJ, Markandu ND, Banks RA, Sagnella GA. Moderate potassium supplementation in essential hypertension. Lancet 1982; 2: 567–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Casenmiller JJM et al. The effect of dietary sodium on urinary calcium and potassium excretion in normotensive men with different calcium intake. Am J Clin Nutr 1985; 41: 52–60.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Joffres MR, Reed DM, Yano K. Relationship of magnesium intake and other dietary factors to blood pressure: the Honoulu heart study. Am J Clin Nutr 1987; 45: 469–75.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wardlaw G. The effects of diet and life-style on bone mass in women. J Am Diet Assoc 1988; 88: 17–25.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. McCarron DA, Morris CD, Young E, Roullet C, Driieke T. Dietary calcium and blood pressure: modifying factors in specific populations. Am J Clin Nutr 1991; 54: 215s-9s.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dawson-Hughes B. Osteoporosis treatment and the calcium requirement. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 67: 5–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lazarus R, Baur L, Webb K, Blyth F. Body mass index in screening for adiposity in children and adolescents: systematic evaluation using receiver operating characteristic curves. Am J Clin Nutr 1996; 63: 500–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ellis KJ, Abrams SA, Wong WW. Body composition of a young, multiethnic female population. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 65: 724–31.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Power C, Lake JK, Cole TJ. Body mass index and height from childhood to adulthood in the 1958 British birth cohort. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 66: 1094–101.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ohno Y, Hirai K, Higuchi H. A comparative study of serum proteins, lipids, calcium and inorganic phosphorus between Japanese and Dutch university students. Environ Health Prev Med 1998; 2: 157–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Moser PB, Reynolds RD, Acharya D, Howard MP, Andon MB. Calcium and magnesium dietary intakes and plasma and milk concentrations of Nepalese lactating women. Am J Clin Nutr 1988; 47: 735–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Arnaud CD, Sanchez SD. The role of calcium in osteoporosis. Annu Rev Nutr 1990; 10: 397–414.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jackman LA, Millane SS, Martin BR et al. Calcium retention in relation to calcium intake and postmenarcheal age in adolescent females. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 66: 327–33.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Nieves JW, Komar L, Cosman F, Lindsay R. Calcium potentiates the effect of estrogen and calcitonin on bone mass: review and analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 67: 18–24.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Spencer H, Kramer L, Osis D. Do protein and phosphorus cause calcium loss. J Nutr 1988; 118: 657–60.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Nordin BEC, Polley KJ, Need AG, Morris HA, Marshall D. The problem of calcium requirement. Am J Clin Nutr 1987; 45: 1295–304.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Nordin BEC, Need AG, Hartley TF, Philcox JC, Wilcox M, Thomas DW. Improved method for calculating fraction in plasma: reference values and affect of menopause. Clin Chem 1989; 35: 14–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kawasaki T, Delea CS, Barttier FC, Smith H. The effect of high-sodium and low-sodium intakes on blood pressure and other related variables in human subjects with idiopathic hypertension. Am J Med 1978; 64: 193–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Miller ZJ, Daugherty SA, Weinberger MH, Grim CE, Christian JC, Lang CL. Blood pressure response to dietary sodium restriction in normotensive adults. Hypertension 1983; 5: 790–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. McCarron DA, Morris CD, Henry HJ, Santon JL. Blood pressure and nutrient intake in the United States. Science 1984; 224: 1392–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. McCarron DA. Role of adequate dietary calcium intake in the prevention and management of salt-sensitive hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 65: 712s-6s.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Abrams SA, Grusak MA, Stuff J, O’Brien O. Calcium and magnesium balance in 9–14-year-old children. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 66: 1172–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Tobian L, Lange J, Ulm K, Wold L, Iwai J. Potassium reduces cerebral hemorrhage and death rate in hypertensive rats, even when blood pressure is not lowered. Hypertension 1985; 7 (Suppl I): 1110–1114.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Itoh K, Kawasaki T, Uezono K. Relationship of dietary intake of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium to blood pressure. Jap Soc Public Health 1995; 42: 95–103.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Lind L, Lithell H, Pollare T, Ljunghall S. Blood pressure response during long-term treatment with magnesium is dependent on magnesium status. A double-blind, placebocontrolled study in essential hypertension and in subjects with high-normal blood pressure. Am J Hypertension 1991; 4: 674–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. National Nutrition Survey: 1996. Section of Nutrition, Bureau of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare. Daiichi Publishing Co., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Itoh K, Kawasaki T, Ogaki T et al. Nutritional investigation in the Tibetan immigrants living in suburban district of Nepal. J Health Sci 1993; 15: 21–7.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Human Environmental Sciences, Mukogawa Women’s University, 6-46, Ikebiraki, 663-8558, Hyogo, Nishinomiya, Japan

    Yoshimi Ohno

  2. Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka

    Kazuko Hirai

  3. Department of Bacteriology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo

    Kumiko Nagata & Toshihide Tamura

  4. Department of Community Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Mathura P. Shrestha

Authors
  1. Yoshimi Ohno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kazuko Hirai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kumiko Nagata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Toshihide Tamura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mathura P. Shrestha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ohno, Y., Hirai, K., Nagata, K. et al. Serum mineral levels among Nepalese living in the southern agricultural Terai region. Environ Health Prev Med 5, 1–5 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02935908

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02935908

Key words

Search

Navigation