Gastrointestinal parasitic infection, anthropometrics, nutritional status,and physical work capacity in Colombian boys

This article tests the hypothesis that the presence of gastrointestinal par asites in Colombian boys is negatively associated with anthropometric chara cteristics, physical work capacity, blood hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and nutri tional status. Anthropometric, Hb, VO2 max, and parasite load data were col lected on 1,016 boys in Call, Colombia. The boys were classified as lower s ocioeconomic class (SEC) from either urban or rural environments, and upper SEC from an urban environment. Sixty-three percent of the boys were infect ed with gastrointestinal parasites and, of the infected boys, 80-95% had li ght parasite loads. Parasites found included Necator americanus, Ascaris lu mbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura, Giardia spp., and E nterobius vermicularis. Infected boys had significantly lower weight, statu re, weight-for-height (among 6-9-year-old boys), Hb levels, and VO2 max (AN COVA, controlling for age and SEC). In terms of nutritional status, infecte d boys were 1.47 times more likely to be classified as iron deficient than noninfected boys (chi-square, P < 0.001), and 1.61 times more likely to be classified as stunted (P < 0.001). Infection was not associated with wastin g in any SEC group. In conclusion, light to moderate gastrointestinal paras ite loads were associated with significantly lower weight, stature, weight- for-height (in 6-9-year-old boys), Hb levels, and VO2 max, and a significan tly higher frequency of IDA and stunting. These data suggest that comprehen sive analyses of the nutritional status of populations in regions endemic f or parasitic infection should include testing for the presence of infection . (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.