Dietary diversity as a sustainable approach towards micronutrient Deficiencies in India

The silent epidemic of micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) continues to be a major public health challenge in the developing world, including India. The prevalence of iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A and folate deficiencies is alarmingly high worldwide. India is additionally facing a high prevalence of vitamin D and B12 deficiencies. To combat the hidden epidemic of MNDs, various governments around the world have mostly relied on supplementation or fortification-based interventions. India launched salt iodization programme in 1962 and vitamin A and iron-folate supplementation programmes in 1970. Yet, even after decades of these programmes, MNDs are still widespread in the country. Due to slow progress in alleviating the burden of most MNDs, the Government of India aims to scale up fortification-based intervention programmes. However, there are safety and effectiveness concerns with such approaches. Hence, overdependence on supplementation and fortification alone may be counterproductive. Instead, food based dietary diversification approach can be the way forward. In this article, we list the common MNDs in India, evaluate major policy interventions, discuss concerns pertaining to fortification and suggest the need for a concurrent food-based approach, in particular dietary diversification, as a long-term and sustainable strategy to address population-based MNDs.

Impact of Dietary Pattern on Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women in Low and High Strata between the Age Group of 30-39 Years in Mumbai

Background: Maternal Nutrition plays an important role in shaping the mother’s and fetal health. Therefore intake of high salt, high fat, high sugar in the diet might lead to over nutrition among pregnant women due to varied food choices of the since most of the subjects consumed outside food, Sugar Sweetened Beverages such as (Cola, Pepsi, Thumps Up, Soda, Sherbet etc), Processed Food such as(Ready to eat food, Mayonnaise, Cheese spread etc) which consist of increase amount of preservative which might affect the mother and foetal’s health. Since there was increase intake of above food groups and decrease intake of macro and micronutrients in the diet through food group such as Fruits, Nuts and Oilseed, Green Leafy Vegetables etc. Therefore there might be increased risk of Over nutrition among women which might lead to GDM (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus), IUGR(Intra Uterine Growth Retardation), Low Birth weight etc.Aim: To study the impact of dietary pattern on Nutritional of pregnant women in Low and High Strata. Method: A purposive random sampling was done among pregnant women because only 2ndtrimester pregnant women were selected for the study. The 50 subjects were divided into LSES (Lower Socioeconomic Strata) &HSES (Higher Socioeconomic Strata) on the basis of Kuppuswamy Index. The dietary pattern of the subjects was assessed through FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) & 3 Day Diet Recall. Result: There was increase consumptionof High Fat, High Salt, High Sugar in the diet through consumption if food group such as Outside Food, Processed Food, Sugar Sweetened Beverages etc and in comparison the consumption of Macro and Micronutrient rich food group was lower which included Fruits, Green Leafy Vegetables, Nuts and oilseed etc. In Lower Strata the consumption of above food group was low because they were financially not stable therefore they were given additional services where the company paid their ration balance so that they could consume selective food group which were costing comparatively more. Since the RDA(Recommended Dietary Allowances) requirements were not met therefore the women were prescribed Iron, Calcium and Folic Acid supplements in the diet to decrease the risk ofMaternal and fetal complication such as GDM(Gestational Diabetes Mellitus), NTD(Neural Tube Defect), IUGR(Intra Uterine Growth Retardation) etc.Conclusion: Therefore to decrease the risk of Maternal and Fetal Complications intake of Macro and Micro nutritions in the diet is imperative and it is important to organize Nutrition Intervention programmes and counsel the pregnant women about Maternal Nutrition and how decrease intake of Nutrients in the diet might lead to Maternal Under nutrition and over nutrition and its related risk

Estado nutricional de micronutrientes de crianças segundo características pessoais e das creches / Nutritional status of micronutrients in children according to personal and daycare center characteristics

Resumo Objetivou-se verificar as diferenças no estado nutricional de micronutrientes de crianças segundo as características pessoais e das creches, além de testar o comportamento dessas diferenças de acordo com o crescimento linear. Estudo transversal com 271 crianças assistidas em creches. As concentrações médias (± EP) de hemoglobina, de zinco no soro e de retinol no soro foram de 11,79 g/dL (± 1,08), 81,58 µg/dL (± 16,56) e 1,68 μmol/L (± 0,45), respectivamente, valores inferiores nas crianças de 9-24 meses e naquelas que estudavam em salas de área inadequadas. Crianças com eosinofilia e em regime parcial apresentaram concentrações médias de hemoglobina e de zinco estatisticamente inferiores. O poliparasitismo esteve associado a baixas concentrações de hemoglobina e de retinol. De acordo com o crescimento linear, crianças com condições específicas (meninas, mais de 24 meses de idade, de zona urbana, não poliparasitadas) tiveram concentrações de zinco inferiores, quando diagnosticadas com déficit de estatura, em relação às eutróficas. Conclui-se que as crianças estudadas apresentaram diferenças no estado nutricional de micronutrientes influenciadas por processos parasitários e por problemas estruturais das creches. Além disso, estabeleceram diferenças relacionadas ao crescimento linear da criança.

Abstract This study aimed to verify the differences in the nutritional status of micronutrients in children according to personal and daycare center characteristics. Also, to test the behavior of these differences according to the linear growth. This cross-sectional study with 271 children assisted at daycare centers. The mean hemoglobin, serum zinc, and serum retinol concentrations (± EP) were 11.79 g/dL (± 1.08); 81.58 µg/dL (± 16.56) and 1.68 μmol/L (± 0.45), respectively, being lower in children aged 9-24 months and in those studying in classrooms with inadequate area. Children with eosinophilia and in part-time regimen had statistically lower hemoglobin and zinc concentrations. Poliparasitism was associated with lower hemoglobin and retinol concentrations. According to the linear growth, children with specific conditions (girls, over 24 months of age, residence in the urban area, with no poliparasitism) had lower zinc concentrations when diagnosed with stunting, compared to those with normal height. In conclusion, the children studied showed differences in the nutritional status of micronutrients influenced by parasitic processes and structural problems of kindergartens. Still, they settled differences related to child linear growth.

Prevención de la desnutrición de la madre y el niño: el componente de nutrición de la Iniciativa Salud Mesoamérica 2015 / Preventing maternal and child malnutrition: The nutrition component of the Mesoamerican Health Initiative 2015

Describir un plan maestro para el desarrollo de planes nacionales para prevenir la desnutrición materno-infantil en Mesoamérica en un plazo de cinco años. Para ello se elaboró un análisis sobre los principales problemas, políticas y programas de nutrición en Mesoamérica. A partir del análisis y de la revisión de la literatura sobre las mejores prácticas en el combate a la desnutrición, el Grupo Técnico de Nutrición desarrolló, discutió y validó el plan durante varias reuniones presenciales. Se desarrolló la teoría de cambio que identifica los problemas y barreras, las acciones propuestas, los cambios e impactos esperados. Se propone la implementación de paquetes de intervenciones para reducir la desnutrición y deficiencia de micronutrientes de utilidad para diversos contextos epidemiológicos. El plan maestro de nutrición constituye un insumo que puede facilitar la elaboración de propuestas de programas y políticas dirigidos a reducir la desnutrición y promover la toma de decisiones basadas en evidencia.

To describe the regional master plan of nutrition to address maternal and child malnutrition in a 5- year period developed by the Nutrition Technical Group. The Nutrition Technical Group developed a situation analysis describing the main nutrition problems, policies and programs in Mesoamerica. The situation analysis and a literature review about effective interventions to address malnutrition were conducted to develop a nutrition master plan. The Nutrition Technical Group held various meetings to develop, discuss and validate the master plan. Theory of change identified problems and barriers, the actions to be developed, the changes and impacts expected. A package of interventions is proposed to reduce undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies useful under different epidemiological contexts. The nutrition master plan provides a guideline of best practices that can be used for evidence-informed decision making and the development of national policies and programs to reduce malnutrition.

Evaluación nutricional, deficiencia de micronutrientes y anemia en adolescentes femeninas de una zona urbana y una rural del estado Zulia, Venezuela / Nutritional evaluation, micronutrient deficiencies and anemia among female adolescents in an urban and a rural zone from Zulia state, Venezuela

Las adolescentes femeninas en edad fértil son un grupo susceptible a anemia y deficiencia de micronutrientes. Con el objeto de analizar el estado nutricional, antropométrico-dietético, la prevalencia de anemia, depleción de los depósitos de hierro (DFe) y Deficiencia de Vitamina A (DVA) en adolescentes femeninas no gestantes, de baja condición socioeconómica de una zona urbana y una rural del Estado Zulia-Venezuela, se estudiaron 78 adolescentes femeninas (15,9 ± 1,1 años), libres de infección e inflamación. Se les realizó una evaluación nutricional, antropométrica-dietética. Se consideró anemia=Hb<12,0 g/dL; DFe=ferritina<12 µg/L; DVA=retinol sérico<20 µg/dL; Riesgo de DVA (RDVA)=20-30 µg/dL. Los datos fueron analizados con el programa SAS, expresados como Media ± Desviación Estándar, considerándose significativo p<0,05. El porcentaje de adecuación calórica y proteica se encontró por debajo de los requerimientos diarios. Las adolescentes rurales mostraron un disminución significativa de los valores promedio de peso (p=0,0024), talla (p=0,0027), IMC (p= 0,0487), Área Grasa (p=0,0183), VCM (0,0241), HCM (0,0488) y CCMH (0,0228), y la más alta prevalencia de anemia (66,67 por ciento), anemia+DFe (33,33 por ciento) y anemia + DFe + RDVA (5,56 por ciento) con respecto a las adolescentes urbanas (41,67 por ciento; 17,36 por ciento y 3,48 por ciento respectivamente). Se observó además, en las adolescentes rurales anémicas una disminución no significativa del porcentaje de adecuación del hierro. La alta demanda de hierro ocasionada por rápido crecimiento y pérdidas menstruales en adolescentes, asociada a la baja disponibilidad de alimentos ricos en hierro, y la baja adecuación de la ingesta de este micronutriente en adolescentes de la zona rural, determina que éste sea un grupo de alto riesgo para anemia y DFe, que requiere de estrategias de prevención, control y suplementación.

Female adolescents in reproductive age are a susceptible group to anemia and micronutrient deficiencies. The objective of this study was to know the nutritional, anthropometric and dietetic status, the prevalence of anemia, depletion of iron deposits (FeD) and Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in female adolescents. Seventy-eight not pregnant female adolescents (15.9 ± 1.1 years old), from an urban and a periurban zone of Maracaibo, and a rural zone near this city, without infectious and inflammatory processes, were analyzed. Anemia in adolescents was considered when Hb<120 g/L; FeD: ferritin<12 µg/L; VAD serum retinol<20 µg/dL; risk of VAD (RVAD) 20-30 µg/dL. The data were analyzed with the SAS program and expressed as Means ± Standard Deviations, statistical significance was considered when p<0.05. The percentage of caloric and protean adjustment in all groups was below the daily requirements. Adolescents from the rural zone showed significant lower values of weight (p=0.0024), height (p=0.0027), body mass index BMI (p= 0.0487), fatty area (p=0.0183), MCV (p=0.0241), MCH (p=0.0488), MHCC (p=0.0228), and the highest prevalence of anemia (66.67 percent), anemia+FeD (33.33 percent), and anemia+FeD+RVAD (5.56 percent), with respect to adolescents from the urban zone. Although, anemic adolescents from the rural zone showed a non significant decrease of the iron percentage adjustment. Iron requirements are increased during adolescence, reaching a maximum at the peak of growth and remaining almost as high in girls after menarche, to replace menstrual losses. The low iron status among adolescents from the rural zone determine that this is a high risk group to anemia and FeD and they require prevention, control and suplementation strategies.