title: Effect of high altitude on protein metabolism in Bolivian children.
abstract: In Bolivia, malnutrition in children is a major health problem that may be caused by inadequate protein, energy, and micronutrient intake; exposure to bacterial and parasitic infections; and life in a multistress environment (high altitude, cold, cosmic radiation, low ambient humidity). However, no data on protein absorption and utilization at high altitude were available. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of altitude on protein metabolism in Bolivian children. We measured protein utilization using leucine labeled with a stable isotope ((13)C) in two groups of healthy prepubertal children matched for age. Group 1 (n = 10) was examined at high altitude (HA) in La Paz (3600 m), and group 2 (n = 10) at low altitude (LA) in Santa Cruz (420 m). The nutritional status did not differ between groups but, as was to be expected, the HA group had higher hemoglobin concentration than the LA group. The children consumed casein that was intrinsically labeled with L-(1-(13)C) leucine and expired (13)CO(2) was analyzed. Samples of expired air were measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometer in Clermont-Ferrand. It was found that cumulative leucine oxidation ((13)CO(2)) at 300 min after ingestion was 19.7 +/- 4.9% at HA and 25.2 +/- 3.2% at LA. These results showed that protein absorption and/or utilization is significantly affected by altitude.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Boliviano de Biología de Altura, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, P.O. Box 641 La Paz, Bolivia. josanto10@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: San Miguel
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spielvogel
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araoz
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lujan
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tellez
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caceres
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gachon
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coudert
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beaufrere
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001823:Body Composition; D001838:Bolivia; D001944:Breath Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002364:Caseins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D007930:Leucine