Household food insecurity in the Islamic Republic of Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Using a systematic review of all available studies between 1991 and 2011, the prevalence of food insecurity in the Islamic Republic of Iran was estimated. After document evaluation and data aggregation, studies were analysed in separate categories based on the methods used: dietary recall, household income/expenditure or experiential/ perception-based surveys. Meta-analysis of dietary-recall studies showed small non-significant increases between 1994 and 2004 in the prevalence of mild [from 8.8% to 9.3%] and moderate food insecurity [from 5.4% to 5.6%]. Severe food insecurity was 3.8% and 3.7% in 1994 and 2004 respectively. Prevalence of food insecurity [moderate to severe] based on household income/expenditure surveys was consistently reported to be 10%. A separate meta-analysis of experiential/perception-based studies revealed rates of mild, moderate and severe food insecurity of 28.6%, 14.9% and 6.0% respectively. By combining study results in this manner makes it possible to come up with more realistic estimates for evidence-informed policy-making, until development of a national food insecurity surveillance system

[Effects of iron supplementation with or without vitamin C on Zn and vitamin C status in iron-deficient university female students]

Iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia are one the most important health problems in the world. Iron supplementation can reduce both Zn absorption and plasma vitamin C concentration. In this study, effects of iron supplementation with and without ascorbic acid on Zn and vitamin C status in iron-deficient university female students have been studied. This study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial. Sixty non-anemic iron-deficient [NAID] girls were selected from 289 female students at Fatemeh Zahra [PBUH] dormitory, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. They were divided randomly into 2 groups, receiving either 50 mg/d elemental iron supplement [group I, intervention] or the supplement plus 500 mg/d ascorbic acid [group II, control] for 12 weeks. Blood analysis was made at the beginning and the end of the 6thand 12th weeks in the two groups. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations were measured using cell-counter and ELISA, respectively. Serum zinc and iron concentrations were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and plasma vitamin C was analyzed by the 2, 4-DNPH method. The Student's t and repeated-measures tests were employed to analyze the data using the SPSS software. The serum zinc level was not initially significantly different between the two groups. It decreased from 80.9 +/- 4.2 to 68.9 +/- 2.7 and from 81.2 +/- 4.5 to 66.1 +/- 2.9 mg/dl by the 6th week in groups I and II, respectively [p<0.001], but by the 12th week it increased significantly to the preintervention value of 79 +/- 2.9 mg/dl [p < 0.01] in group I and, non-significantly, to 70.5 +/- 3.1 in group n. On the other hand, plasma vita D1 in C increased from 3.0 +/- 0.1 to 3.3 +/- 0.2 mg/l [NS] in group 1 and from 2.7 +/- 0.1 to 4.2 +/- 0.2 mg/l [p < 0.01] in group II by the 6th week. The incremental trend in group n continued between the 6thand 12th weeks [3.3 +/- 0.2 to 4.7 +/- 0.3 mg/l in group I, and 4.2 +/- 0.2 to 7.1 +/- 0.2 mg/l in group II; in both cases p < 0.001]. Serum ferritin and iron levels increased significantly in both groups [p < 0.01]. Iron supplementation with and without vitamin C in iron-deficient female students causes serum Zn reduction after 6 weeks. However, the decreasing trend stops after repletion of iron stores, the Zn level returning to the baseline value. Twelve weeks of iron supplementation does not seem to cause reductions in the serum zinc and plasma vitamin C levels in this age group

[Effects of iron supplementation with or without vitamin C on oxidative stress and iron status in iron deficient female college student]

Iron excess disturbs the antioxidant system through pro-oxidants mechanisms. In this study, oxidative stress indices were compared between iron deficient and healthy subjects and effects of iron supplementation with and/or without ascorbic acid on performance of the antioxidant defense system, levels of oxidative stress and iron status in iron deficient female students were determined. In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 60 NAID and 30 normal students [control] were selected from 289 female students at the dormitory of Shaheed Beheshti University [MC], Tehran. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations were measured by cell counter and ELISA, respectively. After matching, NAIDM students were randomly assigned into the intervention group receiving 50 mg/d elemental iron supplements without [group I] and/or with [group II] 500 mg/d ascorbic acid for 12 weeks. Serum malondialdehyde [MDA], Total Antioxidant Capacity [TAC] and serum ascorbic acid were measured at the beginning and the end of the 6th and 12th weeks in the groups studied. Student's t and repeated measurements tests were employed to analyze the data using SPSS software. Mean TAG in group Ill was significantly higher in NAID subjects at the beginning of the study [3.87 +/- 0.47 vs 3.4 +/- 0.41 mmol/mL; p<0.001]. At the end, serum TAC significantly increased in supplemented subjects, not only compared to the baseline values [within group], but also in comparison with controls [between groups] [5.1 +/- .3 vs 4.7 +/- 0.04 mmol/mL; p<0.001]. In contrast, serum MDA concentrations decreased from 1.7 +/- 0.14 to 1.1 +/- 0.09 nmol/mL [p<0.001] and from 1.9 +/- 0.18 to 1.7 +/- 0.15 nmol/mL [p<0.001] in groups I and II, respectively, after 6 weeks of supplementation. Serum MDA concentration however increased to 1.7 +/- 0.15 nmol/mL at the 12th week [p<0.001]; although the same results were seen in group II, but the mean MDA concentration was significantly less than the value at the beginning [1.4 +/- 0.1 vs 1.9 +/- 0.18 nmol/mL; p<0.03]. It seems that the status of the anti-oxidant defense systems significantly improves among NAID young female subjects within the first few weeks after iron supplementation especially with ascorbic acid, an approach recommended for more efficient control of iron deficiency

Food consumption pattern in pregnant women attending prenatal care centers in Maku

There is little information regarding the food consumption pattern and nutrient intake in pregnant women, especially those residing in deprived cities to determine the food consumption pattern and nutrient intake in pregnant women with further comparison of data in rural and urban areas of Maku-the west north of Iran. In this cross-sectional study 284 pregnant women [142 from urban areas and 142 from rural areas] were chosen randomly and privately interviewed using a face-to-face technique. Socio-demographic information such as age, educational level, family size, husband's occupation and pregnancy medical history were obtained by questionnaire. The data on dietary intake was collected using two 24-hour recalls and a food frequency questionnaire for 3 months. Mean consumption of grains and dairies was higher in rural women compared to those in urban areas. Fruit consumption by pregnant women in urban and rural areas was 140 g and 248 g, respectively. There was no significant difference regarding consumption of vegetables, pulses, fats and oils between two groups. All women consumed adequate amount of energy, protein, thiamin and niacin [>75% RDA]. Nutrients intakes including folate, B6, A, D vitamins, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc were found to be insufficient in both groups [<75%RDA]. Our data indicated that the rural women had a better nutritional status than urban women. Further studies are needed to determine factors associated with food consumption pattern in these women

[ associations of total energy, macronutrients intake and meals-derived energy with body mass index]

In some works, a correlation between the percentage of meals-derived energy intake and the prevalence rate of obesity has been found. To explore any possible correlation between body mass index [BMI] and dietary energy, macronutrients intakes and also contribution of meals to energy intake. This was a cross-sectional study in which 348 male high school students aged 14-16 from Zarrin-shahr district, Isfahan, were investigated. The selection procedure was based on stratified random sampling from all high schools in the region followed by calculation of BMI [Weight/height[2]] for each individual. Data on food and nutrient intakes were gathered using a 24-hr dietary recall method. Obesity, overweight and thinness was defined on the basis of CDC 2000. The data showed that 9% of adolescents were thin, 6% overweight and 5% obese. While there was a positive correlation between total energy intake and BMI [r=0.31 p<0.03], no relationship was found between BMI and protein, fat or carbohydrate intakes. In all age groups, overweight/obese students had lower energy intake from breakfast. The adolescents aged 14 and 15 had higher energy intake from lunch [23.9+/-5.1% vs. 18.9+/-4.2% and 27.2+/-4.0% vs. 19.2+/-3.9%], respectively [p<0.01]. There was a significant correlation between total energy intakes and BMI, and also between the latter and the energy share of different meals which may have important implications in designing nutrition education programs to prevent overweight or obesity in school adolescents