Abstract

PEREZ, Betty M  and  LANDAETA-JIMENEZ, Maritza. Índice energía-proteína: relación con indicadores de la composición corporal en niños venezolanos. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2002, vol.15, n.1, pp.31-36. ISSN 0798-0752.

Energy-protein index (E/P), the ratio between logarithmic transformation of tricipital skinfold and arm circumference, has been proposed as a tool for the diagnosis of malnutrition. The present study addresses to characterize the behaviour of this index, in a group of 1577 Venezuelan preeschoolers, aged 2 to 7 years of age. Through descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Student and Scheffé tests, mean values of E/P index were obtained. Percentile distributions were derived as well.. With the use of Tau-b of Kendall correlation coefficient, and Kappa statistical, the degree of association and concordance between the index and those of weight-for-height, muscle and fat arm areas were measured.. E/P values for each age were always higher in girls and a significant effect of age and sex confirmed. A down-wards slope was found among the boys, while the female group exhibited a confuse pattern. The degree of concordance was low when classifications of E/P and weight for height were compared.

Keywords : Energy-protein; index; body composition; preeschoolers; Venezuela.