Body composition is related to cognitive function among young adults in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence suggests that obesity can affect cognitive function. However, it is unclear whether this effect is independent of obesity-related comorbidities. This study thus sought to determine the association between body composition and cognitive function of young adults in Ghana with less predisposition to obesity-related comorbidities. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 381 participants recruited by simple random sampling. After consenting, participants completed questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, along with assessments for anthropometric measures and cognitive function. Analyses for associations were conducted by either Pearson's correlation test or chi-Square test of independence. RESULTS: Over half (60%) of participants were females and 69.6% were in the first year with a mean age of 20.18 ± 2.52 years. Based on Pearson's correlation test, no significant association was found between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), and Trail Making Test-A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B). Nonetheless, a chi-square test showed a significant association, between BMI and TMT-A (p = 0.01), and WHR and both TMT-A (p = 0.001) and TMT-B (p = 0.02). Weak direct correlations were found between body fat percentage and TMT-A (r = 0.120, p = 0.019) and TMT-B (r = 0.133, p = 0.009). Further, a weak inverse correlation was found between muscle mass and TMT-A (r = - 0.141, p = 0.006) and TMT-B (r = - 0.144, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: High body fat, low muscle mass and body fat distribution may have a significant association with cognitive functions and must be considered in obesity interventions. This study provided more insight on the association between BMI and cognitive function and would be helpful in designing new weight management interventions or modifying existing interventions to consider the influence of obesity on cognitive function.

Primary school-based nutrition education intervention on nutrition knowledge, attitude and practices among school-age children in Ghana.

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of a six-week nutrition education intervention on the nutrition knowledge, attitude, practices, and nutrition status of school-age children (aged 6-12 years) in basic schools in Ghana. Short-term effects of nutrition education training sessions on teachers and caregivers were also assessed. Pre-post controlled design was used to evaluate the program. Intervention groups had significantly higher nutrition knowledge scores (8.8 ± 2.0 vs. 5.9 ± 2.1, P < 0.0001) compared to controls in the lower primary level. A higher proportion of children in the intervention group strongly agreed they enjoyed learning about food and nutrition issues compared to the control group (88% vs. 77%, P = 0.031). There was no significant difference in dietary diversity scores (4.8 ± 2.0 vs. 5.1 ± 1.4, P = 0.184) or in measured anthropometric indices (3.6% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.08). A marginally lower proportion of stunted schoolchildren was observed among the intervention group compared to the control group (3.6% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.080). Nutrition knowledge of teachers and caregivers significantly improved (12.5 ± 1.87 vs. 9.2 ± 2.1; P = 0.031) and (5.86 ± 0.73 to 6.24 ± 1.02, P = 0.009), respectively. Nutrition education intervention could have positive impacts on knowledge and attitudes of school children, and may be crucial in the development of healthy behaviors for improved nutrition status.

Effect of complementary foods fortified with Moringa oleifera leaf powder on hemoglobin concentration and growth of infants in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Complementary foods that are deficient in both macronutrients and micronutrients coupled with a high burden of infections during the complementary feeding period are major underlying causes of child malnutrition in developing countries. Among the recent efforts to combat malnutrition by improving the quality of complementary foods in the developing world is the use of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) as a food fortificant. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the effect of feeding MLP-fortified complementary food on hemoglobin concentration and growth of infants and young children after 4 months of feeding. Infants aged 8-12 months were randomly assigned to receive one of three study foods; Weanimix a cereal-legume blend formulated with Moringa (MCL-35g), MLP sprinkled on infants' usual complementary foods (MS-5g) and the control food Weanimix without Moringa (CF-35g). Blood samples for hemoglobin determination as well as dietary intake and anthropometric data were collected at baseline and endline for 237 infants who completed the study. Data analysis was performed with SPSS (version 20) and comparisons were done by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). There were no significant differences in hemoglobin concentration or growth indicators at endline between the three study groups. Findings of this study indicated that feeding infants a 5 g daily dose of MLP, either as part of a cereal-legume blend or as a supplement which was sprinkled on infants' usual complementary foods for 4 months, did not significantly improve infants' hemoglobin concentration or growth indicators.

Improving Blood Retinol Concentrations with Complementary Foods Fortified with Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder - A Pilot Study.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains a major public health issue and is reported to be the cause of about 6 percent of child deaths under the age of 5 years in Africa. Inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A-rich foods is a major cause of VAD. Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) is rich in nutrients particularly vitamin A and its use in infant feeding has been explored. This pilot study was designed to test the efficacy of MLP in improving blood retinol concentrations among infants in a rural district in Ghana. A subset of infants participating in a randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN14377902) were randomly assigned to receive one of the three study foods (MCL-35g and MS-5g both of which were fortified with MLP, and a third food, CF-35g, a cereal legume blend which served as the control food) in a feeding intervention that lasted for 6 weeks. Primary outcome of the pilot study was retinol levels measured in 5 ml of whole blood at baseline and endline using the iCheck™ Fluoro device. A total of 103 infant-mother pairs were recruited at baseline, of which 65 completed the study. All the infants in the study were vitamin A deficient at both baseline and endline when compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of 0.70µmol/l. There was however a marginal non-significant increase in blood vitamin A concentrations for all three groups at endline, with higher numerical increases seen in the two Moringa supplemented groups. VAD is a significant public health problem and MLP could be an affordable and sustainable means of combatting the issue. The efficacy of MLP in improving vitamin A status of infants however needs to be ascertained in well-designed trials involving larger numbers of infants and which will last for longer periods. Such studies will also be beneficial in helping to establish the long-term acceptability of complementary foods that incorporate MLP in the target population.

Acceptability of Complementary Foods That Incorporate Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder Among Infants and Their Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) is a nutrient-rich and readily available food resource that has the potential to improve the micronutrient quality of complementary foods in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acceptability of complementary foods fortified with MLP. METHODS: Moringa oleifera leaf powder was fed to infants either as part of a cereal-legume complementary food blend (MCL-35 g) or by sprinkling as a food supplement (MS-5 g) on infant's usual foods. Mother-infant pairs (n = 18 for the MCL-35 g group and n = 16 for the MS-5 g group) attending regular weight monitoring sessions were recruited to participate in the acceptability trial. The study consisted of an initial tasting session after which mothers were to feed the assigned foods to their infants for 14 days. Mothers rated color, odor, taste, and overall liking of the complementary foods using a 5-point hedonic scale. Primary outcome was the proportion of test porridge consumed. RESULTS: On the tasting day, MCL-35 g group infants consumed an average of 64.27% ± 25.02 of the test porridge offered, whereas MS-5 g group infants consumed an average of 66.43% ± 29.09. During the 14-day period, median percent daily consumption for MCL-35 g was 71.5% of the daily recommended intake, whereas median percent daily consumption for MS-5 g was 86.2%. CONCLUSION: We conclude that complementary foods incorporating Moringa oleifera leaf powder either as part of a cereal-legume complementary food blend (MCL-35 g) or when sprinkled as a food supplement (MS-5 g) on infant's usual foods were well accepted.

Coconut oil and palm oil's role in nutrition, health and national development: A review.

Coconut and palm oils which were the major sources of dietary fats for centuries in most of West Africa have been branded as unhealthy highly saturated fats. Their consumption has been peddled to supposedly raise the level of blood cholesterol, thereby increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. This adverse view has led to a reduction in their consumption in West Africa and they have been substituted for imported vegetable oils. Recent information however, indicates some beneficial effects of these oils particularly their roles in nutrition, health and national development. There is the need for a better understanding of their effects on health, nutritional status and national development. This paper therefore attempts to review the roles which coconut and palm oils play in these respects in developing countries, as a means of advocating for a return to their use in local diets. FUNDING: None declared.