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

[Folic acid and vitamin B12 status in healthy preschool children in Tehran, Iran, 2010]

A deficiency of folate or vitamin B12, particularly in tissues with a high cell replication rate, could inhibit RNA and DNA synthesis, DNA methylation, as well as cell maturation. Therefore, a sufficient intake of these vitamins in childhood is of vital importance. Since there are no published reports on the status of folic acid and vitamin B12 in Iranian children, the present study was conducted to assess serum and red blood cells concentrations and some related factors in healthy 3-6 year old children in Tehran, Iran, 2010. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study, in which 228 children, 3-6 year old [105 girls and 123 boys], were selected by random systematic cluster sampling from 20 [out of 270] day-care centers in Tehran. A 2-ml non-fasting blood sample was drawn from each child and analyzed for serum and red blood cell folate and vitaminB12 by the RIA method. SPSS.16 was used for data analysis, the statistical tests being t-test, Chi-square and ANOVA. There were no significant differences between the 2 sexes with regard to age, weight, height, BMI, RBC folate, or serum folate and vitamin B12 levels. Based on the serum folate level, 9.6% and 37.8% of the children suffered from severe and mild deficiency, respectively; 52.6% had normal folate serum levels. The data also showed that 97.4% of the children had a normal serum vitamin B12 level, only 2.6% being mildly deficient. As judged by the RBC folate level, of 105 children [60 boys and 45 girls], 1% and 37% had severe and mild deficiency, respectively, an absolute majority [62%] having normal levels. The distributions of serum folate, serum vitaminB12, and RBC folate levels were not statistically different between boys and girls. Similarly, no associations were observed between the RBC folate level, serum folate level, or serum vitamin B12 level and age, weight, height, family size, birth order, or head of the family. There were positive significant correlations between serum folate on the one hand and RBC folate [r=0.4, p<0.001] and serum vitamin B12 [r=0.8, p<0.001] on the other hand. Furthermore, folate, RBC folate, and serum vitamin B12 were all positively related to father's education [p=0.01], mother's education [p=0.008] and father's job status [p<0.027]. In addition, the vitamin levels were higher in children of the working mothers, as compared to those of non-working mothers [p<0.036]. There were no differences between the 2 groups with regard to other variables. Folate deficiency is highly prevalent, while the deficiency of vitamin B12 is low, among Tehrani preschoolers. It is recommended to design and implement suitable intervention programs. Major components of such programs should be mothers' nutrition education and improving family food consumption patterns with particular emphasis on optimum utilization of folate sources, particularly vegetables

[Application of an integrative approach to identify determinants of junk food consumption among female adolescents]

The increasing consumption of junk foods by adolescents is associated with adverse health consequences. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of unhealthy snack consumption among female adolescents using an integrative method based on the theory of planned behavior. The sample included 90 female adolescents aged 12-15 years, from 2 guidance schools in Tehran, selected by systematic sampling. In the qualitative phase of the study, which was of a phenomenology type, the data were collected through 9 focus group discussions. After obtaining parental consent, in each discussion session a moderator followed a topic outline developed based on the theory of planned behavior [TPB]. Data analysis was done using the framework method. The quantitative phase consisted of a cross-sectional study on 790 female adolescents aged 12-15 years old from 10 schools, selected using a randomized stratified cluster sampling method. Data on social cognition [based on TPB] and food consumption [using a 48-item food frequency questionnaire] were collected and analyzed using the multiple regression method. In both phases of the study there was a broad range of factors, some of them contradicting each other, influencing selection of snacks by the adolescents. Taste was identified as the most important factor influencing their attitude towards junk foods consumption. The major predictors of behavior of the adolescents were found to be easy access to junk foods, personal taste preferences, peer pressure, media advertisements, and low price of unhealthy snacks [p<0.05]. The most influential individuals in snack choice, based on the qualitative phase findings, were peers, while quantitative findings identified parents as the most influential. Applying an integrative approach provided a comprehensive insight into the underlying factors of junk food consumption by adolescents. Intervention programs with due consideration of these factors can help reduce unhealthy snack food consumption in this vulnerable group

Which foods do TV food advertisements entice our children to eat?

The objective of this study was to examine the content of food advertising in the children's and adolescents' program on the Iranian television. The study, a content analysis of advertisements, monitored 3 hours of children's and adolescents' TV programs broadcast on Channel 1 for one week [4-10 November 2000]. A detailed record of advertisement style and content was used for analysis. Advertisements for food products comprised 25% in number [second rank] and 21% in duration [third rank] of the total TV commercials during the monitoring period. Puffed cereals comprised the largest category [36%] of advertised foods. The messages most frequently used to promote the sale of a product were "quality" [59%] and "taste" [46%]. The most frequent appeals of food advertisements were "stimulation of hunger/thirst" [67%] and "attributed quality" [64%]. "A" puffed corn was the most frequent brand [23%] among the food brands advertised. In 37% of the food advertisements half of the nutritional properties attributed to products were scientifically untrue or misleading. Food advertisements aimed at children on TV were dominated by those for foods of questionable nutritional value, designed in a manner mainly to attract children

Knowledge, Attitude, and practice of bakers regarding different aspect of bread production in the city of Tehran

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of bakers, as direct producers of bread, are considered as one of the factors that can be reflected ultimately in the quality of bread and the magnitude of bread wastage in the country. In an attempt to determine the causes of high bread wastage in the country, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice [KAP] of bakers in the city of Tehran regarding preparation, storage, and consumption of bread. The study included 472 bakers, from 236 bakeries in the city of Tehran chosen by systematic random sampling proportional to the populations of the 19 districts of the city. Data were collected through interviews using a KAP questionnaire. Most of the bakers were aware of appropriate storage condition for flour [78.2%], importance of flour quality assessment [78%], importance of not adding baking powder to the dough [99%], most appropriate container for dough [72%], and appropriate methods of bread-baking [74%]. More than half of the sample did not give correct answers to questions regarding yeast and sourdough. The bakers' attitude towards using both types of yeast was negative in two-thirds of the cases. More than 50% were not satisfied with the appearance and price of bread they were producing; they believed that the price is high. About 24% were familiar with the two-stage baking process, and 41.5% did not perceive it as the preferred method. The bakers' attitude regarding the different aspects of bread production and processing was significantly associated with their education level and service record, but not with their age. As regards the bakers' practice, the findings showed that 25% actually used baking powder, while 34% did not give a clear answer to the questions on this subject. On the other hand, despite their indifferent [39%] or positive [27%] towards the use and storage of sour dough, 45-55% did not use industrial yeast or sour dough. The use of baking powder was related significantly with the type of bread, it is being highest in the case of, in ascending order, lavash, barbari, and taftoon, and lowest in the case of sangak and white bread. The bakers' knowledge regarding preparation and leavening seems to be low, so they need to be educated about appropriate methods of dough-making and baking. Training programs for bakers in proper bread-baking methods and standards is required. Also, to ensure better practice, improving baking conditions and provision of better ingredients and equipment is a priority

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