bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic Transversus Abdominis Release, a Novel Minimally Invasive Approach to Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
Authors: Belyansky Igor , Zahiri H. Reza , Park Adrian
Published: November 2015

Background. Open abdominal wall reconstruction is used to repair complex abdominal wall hernias with contour abnormalities. We present a novel minimally invasive approach to address these types of defects, completed entirely laparoscopically. Methods. Three patients underwent laparoscopic abdominal wall reconstruction for complex hernias in August and September of 2015. Operative approach consisted of laparoscopic transversus abdominis components separation, defect closure, and wide mesh implantation in the retromuscular space. Results. Two males and one female with mean age and body mass index of 70 and 30.1, respectively, underwent a mean operation room time of 329 minutes. Estimated blood loss and length of stay were 91.7 cc and 4.7 days, respectively. No subcutaneous flaps were raised avoiding the need for subcutaneous drains. There were no perioperative complications. All of the subfascial drains were removed prior to patient discharge. On initial follow-up visit at 3 weeks, there was no evidence of wound complications, bulging, or hernia recurrences. Conclusion. Laparoscopic abdominal wall reconstruction with transversus abdominis release is a unique and feasible approach to complex abdominal wall defects with the potential to reduce pain, facilitate recovery, and decrease length of hospital stay for patients.
Urbanization in Latin America: Constraints and Opportunities for Child Feeding and Care
Authors: Ruel Marie T.
Published: November 2015

The principal aim of this paper is to describe the socio-economic context in which the topic of processed complementary feeding in Latin America should be examined. Data from CEPAL (Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe) and from the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) are used to review global trends in urban poverty and malnutrition in the region. The phenomena that are unique to urban life and that are likely to have an impact on child-care and feeding practices are reviewed using data from DHS for six Latin American countries. The issues examined include the higher levels of education and of labour force participation of urban women, the larger percentage of women who head households, and the potentially different family structure and social networks, which may affect the availability of substitute child care. Urban and rural differences in breastfeeding and complementary feeding patterns are also examined to improve our understanding of the potential constraints and opportunities for the promotion of processed complementary foods in Latin America. Programmatic issues that need to be considered in designing and targeting such interventions in largely urbanized Latin America are also discussed.
Processed Complementary Foods in the World Food Programme
Authors: Dijkhuizen Pieter
Published: November 2015

The World Food Programme (WFP) distributes approximately 125,000 metric tons per year of processed complementary foods in maternal and child health and school feeding programmes and for use in refugee and emergency projects. In formulating the foods, WFP seeks the highest nutritional quality for the best cost. Safety is never compromised. The cost of WFP foods is about US$360 per metric ton. The United States Agency for International Development provides half of WFP's demand, and the local manufacturers provide the rest. WFP has had a very successful experience in working with the private sector.
Title II Food Aid and the Nutrition of Children in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Marchione Thomas
Published: November 2015

This article addresses the policy, programme, and food-commodity aspects of United States non-emergency food assistance programmes in the Latin American and Caribbean region since the end of the Cold War. The article contains an analysis of the cost, composition, and quality-control improvements of United States Public Law 480 (P.L.480) Title II foods, which reach over one-half million recipients each year through 16 maternal and child health programmes in 6 countries. After a description of the changes in maternal and child health programmes in the 1990s, the author concludes that further improvement in the nutritional status of young children in Latin America will take place more readily from the transformation of food distribution programmes into food and nutrition security programmes than from isolated acts of supplying complementary foods of improved quality.
Food-Based Strategies to Control Vitamin A Deficiency
Authors: Chakravarty Indira
Published: November 2015

Vitamin A deficiency is still considered a major nutritional problem in the developing world. Increasing evidence of the role of vitamin A in the control of both morbidity and mortality is a point of great concern. Vitamin A supplementation began several years ago, and it still continues in many countries. However, there is a gradual realization that one of the most effective and sustainable ways to overcome vitamin A deficiency is through food-based strategies, which become a way of life. the most effective way to achieve this is by the following methods, in order of priority: dietary diversification (food supplementation, horticultural interventions, management of proper distribution, and availability of vitamin A–rich foods), nutrition education on all issues related to vitamin A (e.g., sources of vitamin A, importance of and need for vitamin A, methods of obtaining vitamin A–rich foods, and community involvement and participation in the process), and food fortification (identification of foods that can be fortified, development of proper cost-effective methods taking into account local food tastes and availability, and development of a mechanism to reach the most needy). This paper summarizes various case studies to ascertain the effectiveness of the different approaches.
Underutilized β-carotene–rich Crops of Vietnam
Authors: Vuong Le T.
Published: November 2015

Solutions to micronutrient deficiencies that capitalize upon indigenous resources and foodstuffs offer a long-term mechanism for elevating the health status of disadvantaged people. in populations where intakes of animal foods are inadequate and food sources of retinol are not economically possible, efficient use of carotene-rich plants may prevent vitamin A deficiency. in Vietnam the gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng) is an excellent source of β-carotene (17–35 mg per 100 g of edible portion). This fruit is familiar to indigenous people and is easy to grow. However, it has been underutilized because it is available only three months a year, there have been no efforts to educate the at-risk population about its nutritional benefit, and research efforts in production or preservation techniques have been lacking. This paper describes the fruit, compares its nutritional value with that of familiar carotenoid-rich fruits, details its traditional usage in preparing rice, and discusses the acceptance of this rice preparation (xoi gac ) by Vietnamese preschoolers in their daily diet. Financial support for research directed at improving the production and preservation of indigenous β-carotene–rich crops is needed to alleviate the problem of vitamin A deficiency of children in northern Vietnam.
Nutritional Potential of Red Palm Oil for Combating Vitamin A Deficiency
Authors: Scrimshaw Nevin S.
Published: November 2015

Although the severe vitamin A deficiency responsible for ocular damage is now rare, subclinical vitamin A deficiency still contributes importantly to high child mortality in the developing countries of Asia. This demands urgent and effective preventive action. Although periodic large doses of vitamin A for this purpose have been a favoured approach of international agencies, the coverage achieved has been inadequate and is usually not sustainable without external support. for this reason, there has been increasing emphasis on a sustainable dietary approach to the prevention of subclinical vitamin A deficiency. One part of this can be the production and use of red palm oil as a salad and cooking oil or blended into other vegetable cooking oils. the latter will also improve the caloric density of the diets, a serious limiting factor for young children in the region. It will also add antioxidant activity to the diet.
Women and Sustainable Approaches to the Management of Iron Deficiency
Authors: Latunde-Dada G. Oluyemisi
Published: November 2015

Iron deficiency is the world's most common nutritional disorder and is predominantly responsible for anaemia in human populations. Its management and control involve iron supplementation and fortification of foods and, in developing countries, the control of parasitic infections as well. It is also important to formulate food-based strategies to improve the bioavailability of dietary iron, for example, by promoting culturally acceptable changes in food choices, processing, and preservation. These require sound scientific data from nutritional research and the participation of women scientists who are familiar with the local and sociocultural preferences of the target communities. Research has shown that the major effects of processing on iron availability are associated with the separation, dehulling, and cooking procedures. The magnitude of losses varies with the food type and processing technique. Blanching and homogenization of vegetables may account for up to 28% and 40% of soluble iron loss, respectively. Moreover, the traditional practice of adding kanwa (an alkaline salt) to soften beans and to impart a green colour to vegetables during cooking results in reduced iron availability. In contrast, germination and fermentation have been shown to enhance the availability of iron from foods. Thus, traditional-food processing methods, such as fermentation, should be encouraged, actively promoted, and preserved.
Plasma Lipid Levels in 10- to 13-year-old Costa Rican Elementary Schoolchildren
Authors: Monge Rafael , Holst Ileana , Faiges Francisco , Rivero Alejandra
Published: November 2015

An adverse lipid profile is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. This study evaluated the lipid profiles of 683 schoolchildren aged 10 to 13 years. The prevalence of both high LDL and high total cholesterol levels was significantly (p < . 001) higher in private schoolchildren than in public schoolchildren. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of high triglyceride levels among the schoolchildren. Mean total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in children whose parents had completed over 11 years of schooling. Private schoolchildren were more sedentary and tended to have a more atherogenic diet. Our data suggest that prevention programmes in primary schools are required to decrease the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including abnormal lipid profiles.
The Potential for Increasing the Iron and Zinc Density of Maize through Plant-breeding
Authors: Bänziger Marianne , Long Jennifer
Published: November 2015

The Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo ( CIMMYT) maize-breeding programme has been focusing on identifying white-grained maize germplasm that has the potential to increase kernel iron and zinc concentrations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, research at Cornell University has focused on traits such as multiple aleurone layer, which can increase kernel iron and zinc concentrations, and low phytic acid concentration, which holds promise for improving the bioavailability of iron and zinc. More than 1,400 improved maize genotypes and 400 landraces were grown and evaluated to assess grain iron and zinc concentrations. These materials represented all white-grained landraces that belonged to the core collection of CIM-MYT's germplasm bank, all white- and yellow-grained CIMMYT maize germplasm pools and populations, all white-grained materials that are currently in the active breeding programme of CIMMYT-Zimbabwe, and 57 white-grained maize cultivars currently grown in southern Africa. After a very thorough evaluation of the genetic variability of iron and zinc potentially available in white-grained tropical maize germplasm, promising genetic variability was found in both improved maize germplasm and landraces.

One difficulty that maize breeders encounter is that grain iron and zinc concentrations are often correlated negatively with grain yield, which may result from the increased carbohydrate content of high-yielding materials, so that a given amount of iron and zinc is diluted. The multiple aleurone trait may be a fast track to overcome this effect. This trait is being introgressed into various materials in both the United States and southern Africa.
Improving Human Nutrition through Agriculture: The Role of International Agricultural Research. Conference Summary and Recommendations
Authors: Bouis Howarth E.
Published: November 2015

This paper reports the conference recommendations for priorities for future research and follow-up actions. It also summarizes the paper presentations and key points made by participants during the course of the conference. It includes partial transcripts of invited remarks made by several participants who were not asked to submit research papers. With respect to research, participants recommended continued efforts on breeding for nutritionally improved crop varieties, evaluation of the impact of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) activities on nutritional outcomes, and new work on communication and outreach related to nutrition. Interdisciplinary research collaboration with non-CGIAR partners in these three broad areas was stressed. The need for a shift in emphasis from protein– energy malnutrition to micronutrient malnutrition was recognized. With respect to institutionally related follow-up actions, formation of an interdisciplinary task force was recommended to implement a process for development of a multidisciplinary common conceptual framework describing agriculture– nutrition linkages, which could then be used for evaluating integrated approaches to nutrition improvement; and to seek approval from the CGIAR Technical Advisory Committee for a system-wide initiative on human nutrition that would include partners from outside the CGIAR. Progress since the conference is reported.
Use, Acceptability, and Cost of Incaparina, a Commercially Processed Food in Guatemala
Authors: Barenbaum Michelle , Pachón Helena , Schroeder Dirk G. , Hurtado Elena
Published: November 2015

Mass-produced fortified foods are widely used in developing countries to prevent malnutrition. To determine current use of, beliefs about, and acceptance of Incaparina, a mass-produced fortified food that was first introduced in the 1960s, 100 Guatemalan caretakers of children 6 to 23 months old in rural and periurban communities were surveyed and group discussions were conducted. Store owners were interviewed to find out how much Incaparina cost, and health-care personnel were interviewed to find out what recommendations they gave to caretakers about feeding Incaparina to young children. Caretakers served Incaparina 13.7 days a month on average; 82% of the children had consumed Incaparina. The percentage of caretakers who gave Incaparina to children under 5 months of age differed according to the community: 41% in rural and 16% in periurban communities. Caretakers reported positive perceptions about Incaparina's taste (100%), smell (95%), and color (71%). Most caretakers thought Incaparina was inexpensive or moderately priced. Health professionals in both communities recommended Incaparina for children; they differed on recommendations for feeding Incaparina during episodes of diarrhea. Widespread and frequent use of Incaparina over a period of nearly 50 years suggests that mass-produced fortified foods can be important vehicles for improving child nutrition in Guatemala and elsewhere.
Nonglyceride Components of Edible Oils and Fats. 2. Nutritional and Health Significance
Authors: Rao B. S. Narasinga
Published: November 2015

Edible oils and fats, which consist primarily of triglycerides of different fatty acids, also contain 1% to 10% of fat-soluble phytochemicals derived from oil-bearing seeds or fruits, collectively called the nonglyceride fraction. They belong to different classes of chemicals, each with a number of different chemical compounds. These chemicals are also present in the unsaponifiable fraction of oils and fats, some of them in a modified form. Several of these chemicals have been shown during the past two decades to have health-promoting functions, with vitamin, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activities. Studies in experimental animals and humans have shown that they can have a preventive role in noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cataract. They also serve as a source of vitamin E and provitamin A. Thus, oils and fats in the nonglyceride fraction not only are sources of energy and essential fatty acids, but also have a disease-preventing and health-promoting role and can serve as a source of some fat-soluble vitamins. Certain edible oils, such as palm oil, rice bran oil, and sesame oil, are particularly rich in the health-promoting chemicals present in their nonglyceride fraction. Some of the edible unconventional oils have high levels of the nonglyceride fraction (8%–10%), and they may have important disease-preventing potential.
The Importance of Zinc in Human Nutrition and Estimation of the Global Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency
Authors: Brown Kenneth H. , Wuehler Sara E. , Peerson Jan M.
Published: November 2015

This paper summarizes recent research on the importance of zinc for human health, and reviews available methods of evaluating zinc status in individuals and populations. The lack of generally accepted biomarkers of zinc status has impeded estimation of the global prevalence of zinc deficiency. Although measurement of zinc consumption and/or plasma zinc concentration can be used to assess population zinc status, few countries have collected adequate data to permit estimation of the prevalence of zinc deficiency. An alternative method, described herein, is to estimate the zinc content of national food supplies, using FAO food balance sheets; the assumed bioavailability of that zinc based on phytate:zinc molar ratios; and the relation between absorbable zinc and theoretical requirements according to country-specific demographics. The results of these analyses indicate that nearly half of the world's population is at risk for inadequate zinc intake, suggesting that public health programs are urgently needed to control zinc deficiency.
General Experience with Zinc Supplementation: Are we Ready for Large-scale Supplementation Programs?
Authors: Briend André
Published: November 2015

Zinc is an essential nutrient often lacking in children's diets, especially when there is a high prevalence of stunting. Although numerous supplementation trials have been conducted to determine whether zinc deficiency is present in the community, little attention has been devoted to assessing different strategies for providing additional zinc to children. Before starting large-scale zinc-supplementation programs, there are several key issues that need to be addressed, such as the optimal frequency of zinc delivery, possible interactions with other micronutrients, the merits of a food-based approach as compared with supplements, the type of food to fortify, and the effect on the bioavailability of zinc of mixing it with food.
Safety of Vitamin A Supplementation of Postpartum Women and Young Children
Authors: Humphrey Jean H. , Ichord Rebecca N.
Published: November 2015

It is now known that the previous World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for vitamin A supplementation of postpartum women (200,000 IU) is not sufficient and that larger doses are well tolerated. the new recommendation is to give women 400,000 IU during the first eight weeks postpartum, as two 200,000-IU doses separated by at least 24 hours. the most common side effect of large doses of vitamin A in young infants is bulging of the fontanelle. This side effect is rare (0%–8%), spontaneously resolves within 72 hours, and is not associated with significant short- or long-term clinical consequences. A 50,000-IU dose is safe for young infants, but doses greater than 50,000 IU may be harmful, especially for infants under four months of age. the revised WHO recommendation for infants zero to five months old is 150,000 IU as three doses of 50,000 IU with a one-month interval between doses.
Planning a National Food-Based Strategy for Sustainable Control of Vitamin a Deficiency in Ghana: Steps toward Transition from Supplementation
Authors: Amoaful Esi F.
Published: November 2015

In an effort to control the high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in Ghana, which studies have shown to be of public health significance, a number of interventions are being pursued. Periodic, massive-dose supplementation strategy, developed as a short-term life-saving intervention, is currently under way, either as part of the polio eradication program or combined with the existing health delivery system, schools, or community-based infrastructures. This has been successfully accomplished, and therefore the stage is set for the design and implementation of a long-term, sustainable solution. This is important in order to make the transition from a subsidized periodic capsule-distribution effort to a more sustainable food-based intervention, which could supply other vital nutrients as well as vitamin A in the diet. This report describes a proposal for a food-based strategy against a backdrop of low consumption in spite of the relatively high availability of some vitamin A–rich foods in most parts of Ghana. The aim is to improve vitamin A status of vulnerable groups through increased production, availability, and consumption of vitamin A–rich foods. The proposal is therefore to undertake a range of food-based interventions that will include horticultural interventions that aim to increase production and availability of vitamin A–rich foods, such as dark-green leafy vegetables and orange-colored fruits and vegetables and tubers in the diet of Ghanaian households. There will also be a comprehensive behavior change and communication strategy, to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of vitamin A deficiency and the need for consumption of adequate vitamin A–rich foods at the household level. Further emphasis will be placed on efforts to promote consumption of red palm oil, since this oil is generally available and not subjected to acute seasonal shortages. A phased community-based program will be implemented in four districts during the next three years, with the aim of applying lessons learned to the rest of the country. The monitoring framework will cover the planning process, provision of services, utilization of services, and coverage of target groups. These dietary approaches offer long-term sustainable options for improving the quality of family diets and overcoming vitamin A deficiency.
Food-Based Strategies: Can They Play a Role in International Development?
Authors: Kiess Lynnda , Moench-Pfanner Regina , Bloem Martin W.
Published: November 2015

Over the past two decades, the definition of poverty has been broadened to include social, economic, environmental, and human development dimensions. In line with this shift of thinking, all countries committed at the 2000 G-8 Summit in Okinawa to achieve the International Development Goals to alleviate poverty by 2015. Development organizations, such as the international development banks, have committed to provide support to countries to reach the International Development Goals, including two goals that specify significant reductions of child and maternal mortality. There is significant evidence that malnutrition, particularly micronutrient malnutrition, contributes to child mortality and growing evidence that malnutrition plays a similar role in maternal mortality. Inadequate dietary intake is an immediate cause of malnutrition, and thus it seems logical that food and agriculture activities could contribute to improvements in nutrition and micronutrient status. Global availability of cereals is adequate, but the rate of undernourishment (inadequate caloric intake) is still high, and child undernutrition still persists in many countries, suggesting that distribution of food is poor. Global availability of noncereal foods, such as animal and horticulture foods, is well below global requirements. Consequently, micronutrient deficiencies, which result mainly from inadequate intake of micronutrient-rich foods, particularly animal foods, are prevalent in most developing countries. Food-based strategies, such as home gardening, small-animal husbandry, poultry, and social marketing, lead to better food production, food consumption, and overall food security. Examining the relative contribution of the determinants of food security—availability, accessibility and consumption/choice—in a given setting provides insight into how the nutrition benefits from food-based strategies, as well as from macro food policies, might be maximized. When implemented in this context, food-based strategies can help countries achieve several of the International Development Goals.
Regional Study of Nutritional Status of Urban Primary Schoolchildren. 2. West Jakarta and Bogor, Indonesia
Authors: Soekirman  , Hardinsyah  , Jus'at Idrus , Jahari Abas Basuni
Published: November 2015

The study provides information on the nutritional status of 8- to 10-year-old primary schoolchildren in urban areas of Jakarta and Bogor, Indonesia, based on anthropometric indicators. It compares the use of the anthropometric indicators weight-for-age Z score, height-for-age Z score, weight-for-height Z score, and body mass index (BMI) to assess thinness (underweight and wasted) and overweight in children. A total of 1,367 children were examined. the nutritional status of the 8- to 10-year urban schoolchildren was better than that of urban children under 5 years old. the prevalence of underweight among urban schoolchildren ranged from 7.4% (girls) to 12.95% (boys), while underweight among urban children under 5 years old in 1998 was 29.7%. Meanwhile, the prevalence of overweight (BMI > 85th percentile) ranged from 15.3% (girls) to 17.8% (boys). There were more overweight children in the private schools than in the public schools. on average, private schoolchildren, of all ages and both sexes, were heavier and taller than public schoolchildren. the BMI indicator for “thinness” and “wasting,” using the NHANES reference, indicates a false positive result. for detecting overweight in children aged 8 to 10 years, BMI is comparable to the other indices, weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height.
Empowering a Tea-Plantation Community to Improve Its Micronutrient Health
Authors: Gopaldas Tara , Gujral Sunder
Published: November 2015

This project was designed to convince and empower management and plantation workers to improve their own nutritional health status and productivity. Plantations are generally bypassed by the government's primary health-care system. A nine-month intervention with iron (60 mg of elemental iron) and vitamin A supplementation and iodized salt was performed on the Balanoor Plantations in India. of the women tea pickers, 99% (n = 334) received the supplements and bought the iodized salt from the plantation ration shop. Their mean hemoglobin level rose significantly from 11.0 to 11.9 g/dl. the women pickers gave the supplements to their families as well as themselves. the results were the same whether iron was given once or twice a week. the mean hemoglobin level of the women pickers rose significantly from 11.1 to 12.0 g/dl with the twice-weekly dose and from 10.9 to 11.8 g/dl with the weekly dose. the prevalence of clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency in the entire plantation population (about 2,500) was reduced significantly (from 19% to 4%), as was iodine deficiency (from 17% to 7%). Common health problems decreased from 88% to 54%. the number of patients referred to larger hospitals decreased significantly from 116 to 86. Absenteeism was not affected.
Malnutrition in Food-surplus Areas: Experience from Nutritional Surveillance for Decentralized Planning in Haiti
Authors: Mulder-Sibanda Menno , Sibanda-Mulder Flora S. , d'Alois Lydia , Verna Daniel
Published: November 2015

In Haiti, a novel approach to nutritional surveillance was developed on the basis of a low-cost, simple-to-repeat set of household surveys in all nine administrative departments using sentinel community sites. This system allows each department to independently conduct follow-up surveys as needed. The results of the first round of surveys conducted in 1995 show lower malnutrition rates in typical food-deficient departments and high levels of malnutrition in several food-surplus areas. Further analyses underscore the importance of variables related to child-care practices and of care-enabling factors such as household food security, health environment, and caregivers’ time and education. These findings challenge the traditional thinking among a majority of Haitian policy makers who look at the malnutrition problem solely from the perspective of local food production.
Measurement of Energy Cost of Selected Household and Farm Activities Performed by Rural Women
Authors: Bains Kiran , Kaur Balwinder , Mann S. K.
Published: November 2015

A nutritional study was carried out on 30 rural, low-income women, aged 25 to 35 years, in the village of Dhandra, Ludhiana District, Punjab, India, to measure the energy cost of selected household and farm activities. The mean weight, mid-upper-arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness were below the reference standards. A negative energy balance among the subjects indicated their poor energy status. The energy costs of selected household and farm activities were assessed by the Caltrac personal activity computer. The energy costs of household activities—making dough, making chapatis, grinding masala, hand pumping, washing utensils, sweeping, mopping, washing the floor, mud pasting, and washing clothes—were 0.0306. 0.0281, 0.0595, 0.0337, 0.0266, 0.0424, 0.0530, 0.0331, 0.0634, and 0.0453 kcal/kg/min, respectively. The energy costs of farm activities— collecting fodder, chaffing fodder, milking, making dung cakes, picking sag, harvesting wheat, bundling wheat, picking paddy, brooming paddy, and separating paddy—were 0.0472, 0.0372, 0.0530, 0.0270, 0.0337, 0.0623, 0.0374, 0.0411, 0.0370, and 0.0744 kcal/kg/min, respectively. All selected activities were categorized as light, except for grinding masala, mopping, mud pasting, harvesting wheat, separating paddy, and milking, which were categorized as moderate on the basis of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) physical activity ratios. The Caltrac gave lower values for the energy costs of most of the activities. Although it is simpler and less costly, the Caltrec must be calibrated against methods of measuring oxygen consumption for similar activities.
Nutritional Status of Rural Women in Relation to their Participation in Mixed Farming in the Tafresh Area of Iran
Authors: Fami Hossein Shabanali , Veerabhadraiah V. , Nath Kamal G.
Published: November 2015

This study was conducted in the Tafresh area of Iran to assess the dietary patterns, time allocation, and nutritional status of rural women in relation to their participation in mixed farming activities. We selected 75 women from 40 villages by applying a stratified random-sampling technique. Cereals and grains were the major source of energy intake. According to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) tables of India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the respondents seemed to have no micronutrient and energy deficiencies during the spring season. They spent most of their time and energy on household, animal husbandry, and crop farming activities. According to measurements of body mass index (BMI), the respondents were well nourished. However, despite the high level of BMI, analysis suggested a negative energy balance. Nevertheless, analysis indicated that rural women with negative energy balance spent more time and energy in mixed farming and had a higher level of participation in related activities. Hence, it is evident from the results that the physical contribution of rural women in mixed farming activities has a detrimental effect on their nutritional status, at least during some parts of the year (e.g., spring or summer). Therefore, there is a need to adjust nutritional interventions to improve the sustainability of their food intake and to develop appropriate technologies in mixed farming to alleviate their work burdens.
Can Biotechnology Help Meet the Nutrition Challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Authors: Tagwireyi Julia
Published: November 2015

The successful efforts in the 1980s to redress nutrition problems in sub-Saharan Africa are being eroded. Countries in eastern and southern Africa are now facing serious food shortages because of recurrent droughts, floods, civil wars, and the concomitant growing poverty. the potential for biotechnology to alleviate hunger holds promise if the new technology can be adapted to the prevailing sociocultural context in Africa. Agronomists and biotechnologists need to work together to ensure that the biotechnology agenda for Africa is responsive to the food and nutrition needs of its people.
The Potential for Biotechnology to Improve the Nutritional Value of Cassava
Authors: Fauquet Claude M. , Taylor Nigel
Published: November 2015

Cassava, a starch-rich plant that has poor protein content and usually poor vitamin content, feeds about 600 million people each day. When cereals can no longer be grown because of soil fertility problems, it is often still possible to grow cassava. It is the third most important source of dietary calories in the tropics, and reliance on the crop is especially high in West and Central Africa. the International Laboratory for Tropical Agricultural Biotechnology is promoting research to improve cassava productivity and is a leader in developing genetic engineering to improve the quantitative and qualitative traits of this essential food crop.
Research and Development of Transgenic Plants in Malaysia: An Example from An Asian Developing Country
Authors: Hashim Marzukhi , Osman Mohamad , Abdullah Ruslan , Pillai Vilasini , Bakar Umi K. Abu , Hashim Habibuddin , Daud Hassan Mat
Published: November 2015

In 2000, agriculture contributed 13% to the national gross domestic product of Malaysia. the country of 23 million people has created a competitive program coordinated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, research institutions, and universities to undertake biotechnology research in several areas. Intensified research efforts are under way on oil palm, rubber, rice, papaya, and orchids. Although the most progress has been made in rice and papaya, no transgenic crop is ready for field trials. Nonetheless, preliminary steps have been taken to prepare for the trials, and detailed testing protocols are being developed.
Work outside the Home is the Primary Barrier to Exclusive Breastfeeding in Rural Viet Nam: Insights from Mothers Who Exclusively Breastfed and Worked
Authors: Dearden Kirk A. , Quan Le Nga , Do Mai , Marsh David R. , Pachón Helena , Schroeder Dirk G. , Lang Tran Thi
Published: November 2015

This study assessed barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in rural Viet Nam and identified how a few mothers were able to exclusively breastfeed despite barriers. A cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative assessment was carried out among 120 mothers of infants less than six months old in northern Viet Nam. Only 24% of the mothers exclusively breastfed. Adjusting for infant's age and who attended delivery, the risk of not exclusively breastfeeding was 14.0 times greater for women who had returned to work than for women who had not. Exclusively breastfeeding mothers ( n = 4) who worked differed from other mothers in important ways. They all felt they had enough milk, all knew the appropriate time to introduce foods and liquids, and most were supported in their breastfeeding decisions by commune health workers and family members. This research suggests strategies that can be implemented now to increase exclusive breastfeeding in rural work environments. These include improving knowledge about the introduction of water and semi-solids, addressing perceptions of milk insufficiency, securing support from others, and presenting mothers with options for exclusively breastfeeding, even when they work outside the home.
Macrolevel Approaches to Improve the Availability of Complementary Foods
Authors: Lutter Chessa K.
Published: November 2015

Large numbers of infants and young children suffer from the short- and long-term health effects of poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. Strategies to improve the availability of and access to low-cost fortified complementary foods can play an important corresponding role to that of behavior change in improving nutritional status of young children. However, the nutritional quality of complementary foods used in publicly funded programs is not always optimal, and such programs are costly and reach only a tiny fraction of those who could benefit. To broadly reach the target population, such foods need to be commercially available at affordable prices and promoted in a way that generates demand for their purchase. A sensible long-term policy for the promotion of low-cost fortified complementary foods calls for attention to their nutritional formulations and cost, the economics of production, and the legislative, regulatory, and competitive framework in which marketing occurs. This paper provides information on how to improve the nutritional formulations of fortified complementary foods and outlines the necessary conditions for a market approach to their production and promotion.
Household-Level Technologies to Improve the Availability and Preparation of Adequate and Safe Complementary Foods
Authors: Mensah Patience , Tomkins Andrew
Published: November 2015

Plant-based complementary foods are the main source of nutrients for many young children in developing countries. They may, however, present problems in providing nutritionally adequate and safe diets for older infants and young children. The high starch content leads to low-nutrient diets that are bulky and dense, with high levels of antinutritive factors such as phytates, tannins, lectins, and enzyme inhibitors. Phytates impair mineral bioavailability, lectins interfere with intestinal structure, and enzyme inhibitors inhibit digestive enzymes. In addition, there is often microbial contamination, which leads to diarrhea, growth-faltering, and impaired development, and the presence of chemical contaminants may lead to neurological disease and goiter. The fact that some fruits containing carotenoids are only available seasonally contributes to the vulnerability of children receiving predominantly plant-based diets. Traditional household food technologies have been used for centuries to improve the quality and safety of complementary foods. These include dehulling, peeling, soaking, germination, fermentation, and drying. While modern communities tend to reject these technologies in favor of more convenient fast-food preparations, there is now a resurgence of interest in older technologies as a possible means of improving the quality and safety of complementary foods when the basic diet cannot be changed for economic reasons. This paper describes the biology, safety, practicability, and acceptability of these traditional processes at the household or community level, as well as the gaps in research, so that more effective policies and programs can be implemented to improve the quality and safety of complementary foods.
Red Palm Oil Supplementation: A Feasible Diet-Based Approach to Improve the Vitamin A Status of Pregnant Women and Their Infants
Authors: Radhika M. S. , Bhaskaram P. , Balakrishna N. , Ramalakshmi B. A.
Published: November 2015

This double-blinded, randomized, controlled study was designed to study the effect of dietary supplementation with red palm oil during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal vitamin A status. A total of 170 women were recruited at 16 to 24 weeks of gestation and randomly assigned to an experimental group that received red palm oil to supply approximately one recommended dietary amount (RDA) (2,400 μg) of β-carotene or to a control group that received an equivalent volume of groundnut oil. The women received the oils for a period of 8 weeks, starting at 26 to 28 weeks of gestation and extending to 34 to 36 weeks of gestation. The mean postintervention (34 to 36 weeks) levels of serum retinol were 1.20 ± 0.22 (SD) μmol/L (95% CI, 1.15–1.25) in women receiving red palm oil and 0.73 ± 0.15 μmol/L (95% CI, 0.69–0.77) in their infants; these levels were significantly higher than those in women receiving groundnut oil (1.07 ± 0.26 μmol/L; 95% CI, 1.01–1.13; p < .01) and their infants (0. 62 ± 0.17 μmol/L; 95% CI, 0.57–0.67; p < .001). A significantly lower proportion of women in the red palm oil group than in the control group had vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol levels < 0.7 μmol/L) after intervention (1.5% vs. 9.7%). The proportion of women having anemia was significantly lower (p < .01) in the red palm oil-supplemented group (80.6%) than in the control group (96.7%). The mean birthweight and gestational age of the infants did not differ significantly between the two groups. An increased risk of low birthweight (p = . 003) and preterm delivery (p = . 000) was observed with decreasing serum retinol levels in the third trimester of pregnancy. These results show that red palm oil supplementation significantly improved maternal and neonatal vitamin A status and reduced the prevalence of maternal anemia. Maternal vitamin A status in the later part of pregnancy is significantly associated with fetal growth and maturation. Hence red palm oil, a rich source of bioavailable vitamin A, could be used as a diet-based approach for improving vitamin A status in pregnancy.
Nutrition Challenges in the Next Decade
Authors: Rajagopalan S.
Published: November 2015

My heart aches to think of the conditions of the poor and the low in India. So long as millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold everyone a traitor, who has been educated at their expense and pays not the least heed to them. No amount of politics can be of any avail until the masses of India are well fed, well educated and well cared for.

— Swami Vivekanandha [1]

The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties.

— Article 47 of the Constitution of India [2]
Anthelmintic Treatment Improves the Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin Concentrations of Tanzanian Schoolchildren
Authors: Bhargava Alok , Jukes Matthew , Lambo Jane , Kihamia C. M. , Lorri W. , Nokes Catherine , Drake Lesley , Bundy Donald
Published: November 2015

To investigate the relationships between helminth infections and iron status among school-aged children, 1,115 Tanzanian children in grades 2 through 5 were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. The children in the treatment group were screened for infection with Schistosoma haematobium and hookworm at baseline, 3 months, and 15 months; infected children were given albendazole against hookworm and praziquantel against schistosomiasis. The control group received a placebo and did not undergo parasitological screening until 15 months after the baseline. Hematological variables were compared between the treatment and control groups. The main results were, first, that the hemoglobin concentration significantly improved after treatment for hookworm (p < .001) by 9.3 g/L in children treated for hookworm only and by 8.8 g/L in children treated for hookworm and schistosomiasis. The ferritin concentration also improved in children treated for schistosomiasis (p = .001) or hookworm (p = .019). Second, a longitudinal analysis of the data from the children in the control group showed that hookworm and schistosomiasis loads were negatively associated with hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations. Moreover, ferritin concentrations increased as C-reactive protein levels increased. Overall, the results showed that anthelmintic treatment is a useful tool for reducing anemia in areas with high hookworm and schistosomiasis endemicity. The empirical relationship between ferritin and C-reactive protein indicated that simple procedures for adjusting cutoff points for the use of ferritin as an indicator of low iron stores were unlikely to be useful in this population.
Household Trials with Very Small Samples Predict Responses to Nutrition Counseling Intervention
Authors: Valle Neiva J. , Santos Iná , Gigante Denise P. , Gonçalves Helen , Martines José , Pelto Gretel H.
Published: November 2015

Household trials were conducted to test the acceptability and feasibility of the recommendations to be delivered to the mothers in the context of a randomized intervention implemented in Pelotas, Brazil. A first home visit was paid to assess child health and feeding problems. In a second visit, the mother was encouraged to select one or two recommendations to try out over five days. The last visit was used to assess the mothers’ experiences in attempting to implement the recommendations. Nonexclusive breastfeeding, use of the bottle, monotonous diet, and low energy density of foods were the most common problems. The most frequently selected recommendations were those aiming to increase the energy density of foods. Mothers generally reported positive responses to the recommendations. The household trials highlighted the acceptability and feasibility of the planned recommendations and correctly predicted the changes that were successfully implemented by the mothers in the large intervention study.
Introduction to the Proceedings of the International Research on Infant Supplementation (Iris) Initiative
Authors: Gross Rainer , Dwivedi Archana , Solomons Noel W.
Published: November 2015

In 2001, students and professionals from 13 nations were hosted by UNICEF for the International Workshop on Multi-Micronutrient Deficiency Control in the Life Cycle in Lima, Peru, May 30–June 1, 2001. Workshop participants engaged in both narrow and broad discussions of ways to combat multiple micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. Preliminary data from four common-protocol studies conducted in Peru, South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam were presented. Participants also discussed the immediate, preliminary, and interim issues that could guide both policy and planning of future studies of multiple micronutrient deficiency. Among the studies highlighted was the International Research on Infant Supplementation (IRIS) I trial. A review of IRIS I yielded some confirmation of the efficacy using a crushable “foodlet” (i.e., cross between food and tablet) as a supplementation vehicle, as well as concerns about potential adverse consequences of nutrient-nutrient and nutrient-nutriture interactions. Other plenary topics illustrated the practical matters of how the IRIS I logistics and operations were built, and several focused on how to best design follow-up research on infant supplementation. Finally, a series of working groups allowed for in-depth discussions on the topics of community and policy, monitoring and implementation, and research. Researchers continue to try to identify efficient and effective programs suited to the low-income settings in which infant multi-micronutrient malnutrition occurs. The papers in these proceedings elaborate on several aspects of the IRIS study, and they are published in the hope that their analysis by readers will produce wider dissemination of the details of this devastating problem.