Iron and zinc nutritional and biochemical status and their relationship among child bearing women in Marand

Iron and zinc are essential micronutrients for human health. Deficiencies in these 2 nutrients remain a global problem, especially among women and children in developing countries. Many studies indicate the low zinc intakes among premenopausal women, and avoidance of meat intake is characterized as one of the main causes. However, it seems dietary zinc reduces iron biochemical indices including ferritin, Hct, Hb, MCV, Transferrin Saturation. This study is an analytical cross - sectional survey, and the sample concluded 170 premenopausal women, and was a subgroup of the population that was studied in [Evaluation of intervention methods to preventing of Iron deficiency Anemia Research]. The data on demographic and food consumption were gathered by related questionnaire. Serum zinc was measured by atomic absorption, and other iron related biochemical parameters were measured by their specific related kits. Data was analyzed by food processor 2 and SPSS windows 10. Mean of dietary intake of iron and zinc was 24.51 and 3.45 mg/day, respectively. Mean of dietary intake of iron and zinc was 24.51 and 3.45 mg/day, respectively. Mean of daily calori intake was 1708.55 Kcal among subjects. Serum zinc was significantly correlated with hematocrit and hemoglobin [P was 0.027 and 0.02 respectively]. Analysis of regression between serum zinc and dietary factors including calori, protein, iron, fiber, zinc, vitamin C also showed the significant correlation between serum zinc and dietary vitamin C [r= 0.30, p= 0.026]. Among the iron biochemical indices, hematocrit and hemoglobin were significantly correlated with dietary zinc [p was 0.03 and 0.02, respectively]. Mean of serum zinc was significantly different between anemic, and non anemic groups, but normal, anemic and iron deficient anemic groups did not show significantly difference about serum zinc. Our results indicated that mean of dietary zinc is lower than RDA among the women, and this is confirmed by the NHANESII results. At the other hand, the significant relationship between zinc and Hb, Hct, vitamin C would explain the role of vitamin C in enhancing their bioavailability

effect of nutrition education on the knowlege and practice of elementary school children regarding junk food intake

Nutritional habits and behavior are acquired and established during childhood and can remain through the whole life. Proper nutrition in childhood results in enhancing the child growth and development and hinders the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Regarding the significance of nutritional training of school children, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of nutrition education on knowledge and nutritional practice of grade five elementary school children about junk food intake in Tabriz from 2004 to 2005. This experimental study was conducted on 487 students [from 16 schools] in two control and treatment groups. In this research two teaching styles [lecturing without teaching aids - and with teaching aids and group discussion] were performed for twelve sessions for the students. Data collecting tool was a questionnaire whose reliability and validity had been confirmed in advance. To investigate the effect of intervention of nutrition education in junk food consumption Solomon method was used. The results obtained from this study showed no significant difference between mean knowledge and practice of the students in control and education groups before intervention. However, after nutrition education there was a significant difference [P=0.005] between mean score of knowledge and practice in two groups and the mean score of practice in treatment group increased from 87.8 +/- 31.95 before intervention to 104.6 +/- 28.34 after intervention and the mean score of knowledge increased from 22.4 +/- 16.49 before intervention to 42.6 +/- 25.68 after intervention. In addition, knowledge and practice increased significantly in two groups [P=0.005]. The results were more favorable in girls than in boys [P=0.005]. Nutrition education plays a crucially important role in improvement of knowledge and practice, particularly in school. Replacement of junk food with nutritious, healthy food will reduce the complications posed by consumption of junk food. Parents, education also seems essential to reduce the consumption of junk food