American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 31, 1328-1333, Copyright © 1978 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Assessment of protein reserves (cellular mass) in Aboriginal children

DB Cheek, JE Graystone, AB Holt, GC Sutherland, SA Chopra and RM Spargo

The body protein reserves, assessed indirectly by the measurement of intracellular water, was determined in free-living Aboriginal children and adolescents located in Central and Northwestern Australia. Fifty one individuals were studied--31 males and 20 females. Significant reductions were observed in intracellular water or cell mass relative to the cube of body length for Aboriginal females when compared to a control female group. Only marginal or borderline differences for the same parameters were observed when Aboriginal males were compared with controls. Comparison of Aboriginal females with Aboriginal males demonstrated significant reductions in cell mass (intracellular water) relative to body length cubed in the female. This finding in the Aboriginal female is of concern because many become pregnant in the early teenage years. Evidence was found during the course of this study that plasma zinc concentrations were frequently low. This led to a concomitant study on serum and plasma trace metals in two Aboriginal settlements (364 individuals) to be published in a subsequent paper.