Background: apolipoprotein-a1 (apoa1) has been proposed as indicator of nutritional state, but controversy exists on the matter

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to compare serum apoA1 with anthropometric evaluation as a diagnostic test to of nutritional state in children with or without malaria.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional design, with blind and simultaneous use of diagnostic tests. Serum ApoA1 was measured with a nephelometric method (APOA, Beckman®  Laboratory).

RESULTS: 262 children were evaluated. The frequency of some anthropometric risk of malnutrition was 72% in malaric children, and 70% in the non-malaric ones. Two out of every three children had less than 0,94 g/L (lowest normal limit) of apoA1. There was no significant correlation between apoA1 and each one of the anthropometric indicators, and the Spearman's coefficients were lower than 0,1 in every instance. Sensitivity and specificity of apoA1 were, respectively, 31% and 83% among non-malaric children, as compare with the anthropometrical nutritional classification; the corresponding figures among malaric children were 83% and 27%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: apoA1 is not a useful tool for diagnosis of the nutritional state, either in malaric or nonmalaric children.