Dietary patterns of macro and micro nutrients intake of children and mothers of the christian community living in peshawar

To find out the dietary patterns and nutrient and energy intakes of school going children and nursing mothers from the Christian minorities of Peshawar. A total of 259 individuals [186 children mean age 7.21 +/- 1.28 yrs and 73 nursing mothers mean age 37.6 +/- 4.7 yrs] of 68 families were included in the study. Information regarding dietary patterns and food intakes were obtained and recorded in a pre-tested questionnaire. Nutrients were calculated using food composition tables. Percent adequacy for each nutrient was calculated dividing the total nutrient content by the value of recommended daily allowance [RDA] for that nutrient and multiplying with 100. Children and mothers of the Christian communities consumed almost the same types of diets that are consumed by the genera] population of the country. Rice, wheat bread, meat, pulses, vegetable curry, and tea were the main constituents of the diets used by these subjects. The nutrients were calculated from actual ingredients used for dish preparation and the quantity of food consumed by the families. The percent adequacy of energy, protein, Ca, Fe, vitamin A, D, C and niacin, were respectively 85.8, 68.9, 49, 5, 65.2, 44.8, 48, and 70% of the RDA for children. While in case of nursing mothers, the percent adequacy for these nutrients were 75.8, 70.4, 34.5, 56.2, 54.2, 68, 7 and 80.2%. respectively. Children and nursing mothers of the Christian community suffer from malnutrition and have poor nutritional status when compared to the rest of their counterparts of the country

General and nutritional protocol nasogastric [NG] feeding of neonates in a public hospital of peshawar, NWFP

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the nutritional intake of the infants through nasogastric [NG] feeding and the associated complications. Ten infants [mean age=17.3 +/- 9.3 days, mean wt=2.1 +/- 0.5 Kg] were included in the study. Nutrients and energy were calculated from the NG feed using food composition tables. Monitoring protocol and complications were observed. The mean total energy intake was 114.62 +/- 9.48 Kcal/day [47% of RDA]. The mean protein intake was 1.25 +/- 0.07 g/day, fulfilling only 27% of the requirements. The mean per day intakes of Ca, P, Zn, Fe, and Mg and mean per day intake of vitamins A, D, E, B6, B12, folate, thiamin, and ascorbic acid from NG tube were much lower than RDA. Aspiration, reflux, tube blockage, tube displacement, gut infection and diarrhea were noted. Monitoring of NG feed was satisfactory. The intake of protein and energy and frequency of most of complications is an issue of concern. Stress must be placed to increase the energy and nutrients intake [particularly protein], further strengthening monitoring and to minimize associated complications of NG feeding in neonates

Human embryology and nutrition - some factor from the Holy Qur-an

The Holy Qur-an has provided vast information on various stages of human embryology. It has been stated that man has been created from the elements provided mainly from water and soil. Qur-an states that after fertilization, nutfah [zygote] rests in the mother's womb for some time, where it gets its nourishment and protection from the outside stresses. It grows into alaqa [a clot of congealed blood] and then into mudgha [fetus lump]. Then the mudgha is converted into izaman [mass of bones]. Then the mother gives birth to the child. The term used in Qur-an for giving birth is nukh-raja-kum tiflan [expulsion of the baby]. The newborn feeds on the mother's breasts for at least two years or two and a half years, as Allah states in the Holy Qur-an