Blood lipid and protein status of Karen hill tribe children aged 1-6 years in Northern Thailand

Introduction: Low blood lipid and protein levels are affected from inadequate intakes of protein and energy. This paper reported the protein and lipid nutritional status of Karen hill tribe children aged 1-6 years in the north of Thailand.Methods: All children aged 1-6 years (N = 158; 83 boys, 75 girls) from the three Karen villages (Mae HaeTai, Mae Yot, Mae Raek) of Mae Chaem district in the north of Thailand were studied. The Karen is the largest mountain ethnic minority (“hill tribe”) group in Thailand. A whole blood of 300 mL was obtained by “fingerstick” and was measured for total protein, albumin, globulin, lipid profile. All biochemical values obtained were compared with the reference values by age.Results: All families of the study boys and girls had income lower than the Thailand poverty line (US $1,000/year). Less than 10% of the study children had serum total protein at or below 6.1 g% which indicated low serum total protein. None of them had low serum albumin (189 mg%).Conclusion: The Karen children aged 1-6 years had high prevalent of low blood lipid and protein levels.They were from poor family with poor sanitary conditions in their households. It would appear that the priority recommendations for improving nutrition in Karen villages in Mae Chaem would be to increase protein and energy consumption such as fat and oil.

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