| Popis: |
During a health survey in groups of aboriginals in South Australia the opportunity was taken to investigate haematological parameters in over 800 individuals. Despite differences in diet, general medical care, incidence of mixed blood, parity, alcoholism etc. there was no significant difference in the mean haemoglobin levels between these groups (from 5 reserves) and a similar group of Caucasians. Fasting serum iron levels were performed in a large number of cases and two findings emerged. Firstly, a number of the males had low values possibly due to incipient iron deficiency produced by blood letting practices. There was an increase in serum iron in a number of individuals in those reserves where alcohol consumption was common. The most striking finding was the low serum folate level which was significantly below that recorded in Caucasian groups. In the individuals in all the four reserves where this was studied the mean level in males and females was below 3.9 μg/I. The mean level was 9.8 μg/1 in healthy Caucasian adults. No correlation could be found between low serum folate levels and dietary intake. Also, the low serum folate levels were no more common in these reserves where large quantities of alcohol were consumed. Despite these very low serum folate levels, this was not reflected in other haematological parameters which are usually associated with folic acid deficiency. The Australian aboriginal therefore apparently is one ethnic group in which serum folate is significantly lower than in other described populations. This occurs in the absence of any commonly demonstrated cause of folic acid deficiency. |
