Micronutrient status of New Zealand adolescent women consuming vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Globally, there appears to be an ever-increasing interest in adopting a vegetarian diet. However, there are concerns that avoiding meat may increase the risk of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies, especially for vulnerable populations, such as adolescent women. The objective of this study was to compare the micronutrient status of vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent women in New Zealand. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Adolescent women aged 15-18 y were recruited from eight locations across New Zealand. Blood samples were analysed for: haemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, zinc, selenium, retinol binding protein, folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. RESULTS: Of the 182 participants who provided a blood sample, 15% self-identified as vegetarian (n=27). On average, vegetarians had 3.1% (95% CI -5.8 to -0.4, p=0.025) lower haemoglobin, and 8.3% (95%CI -14.1 to -2.1, p=0.004) lower selenium. In contrast, serum folate was 80.5% (95% CI 45.7 to 123.7, p<0.001) higher. The prevalence of zinc and selenium deficiency was higher among vegetarians (50% and 12%, respectively) than non-vegetarians (21%, and 2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent vegetarian women may be at increased risk of deficiency of micronutrients commonly found in animal products, including zinc and selenium, and may benefit from following dietary practices that enhance micronutrient intake and absorption.

Effects of variations in atmospheric temperature and humidity on the estimation of exclusive breastfeeding status using the deuterium oxide dose-to-mother technique.

Background: The deuterium dose-to-mother (DTM) method measures the human milk intake of breastfed children. Recently, the use of this method has been expanded to classify babies objectively as exclusively breast fed (EBF) or not (non-EBF) based on quantification of non-milk oral water intake (NMOI). However, the calculation of NMOI estimates involves atmospheric temperature and humidity. Objective: To evaluate the effects of atmospheric temperature and humidity on NMOI calculation and the classification of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: The effect of indoor temperature and relative humidity on NMOI and the estimated prevalence of non-EBF were examined in two existing data sets of DTM in children by varying temperature in the range of 15 to 35°C and relative humidity in the range of 20 to 80% representing the maximum span of indoor conditions expected. Population-level estimates of NMOI distributions were derived using the rstan package for R v2.21.2. Results: The NMOI decreased at a rate of -1.15 g/day per °C increase and at a rate of -1.01 g/day per percent increase in relative humidity; this was due to variations in non-oral water intake from the atmosphere, a component of the calculation of NMOI, which is dependent on temperature and humidity. For the various locations considered, the mean calculated NMOI varied between 24.6 and 53.3 g/day using the same input data. In the mixed-fed sample of babies, the prevalence of non-EBF based on the earlier defined NMOI cut-off of 86.6 g/day was reduced by 19% when relative humidity was increased by 60%. Conclusions: Atmospheric conditions are essential factors in the computation of NMOI, used in the objective classification of babies as exclusively breast fed or not, and should be considered when the DTM method is used to classify exclusive breastfeeding.

Impact of milk secretor status on the fecal metabolome and microbiota of breastfed infants.

Maternal secretor status has been shown to be associated with the presence of specific fucosylated human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), and the impact of maternal secretor status on infant gut microbiota measured through 16s sequencing has previously been reported. None of those studies have confirmed exclusive breastfeeding nor investigated the impact of maternal secretor status on gut microbial fermentation products. The present study focused on exclusively breastfed (EBF) Indonesian infants, with exclusive breastfeeding validated through the stable isotope deuterium oxide dose-to-mother (DTM) technique, and the impact of maternal secretor status on the infant fecal microbiome and metabolome. Maternal secretor status did not alter the within-community (alpha) diversity, between-community (beta) diversity, or the relative abundance of bacterial taxa at the genus level. However, infants fed milk from secretor (Se+) mothers exhibited a lower level of fecal succinate, amino acids and their derivatives, and a higher level of 1,2-propanediol when compared to infants fed milk from non-secretor (Se-) mothers. Interestingly, for infants consuming milk from Se+ mothers, there was a correlation between the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus, and between each of these genera and fecal metabolites that was not observed in infants receiving milk from Se- mothers. Our findings indicate that the secretor status of the mother impacts the gut microbiome of the exclusively breastfed infant.

Chicken liver and eggshell crackers as a safe and affordable animal source food for overcoming micronutrient deficits during pregnancy and lactation in Indonesia: a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial (SISTIK Growth Study).

Background: Indonesia ranks fifth in terms of the number of stunted children and there has been little change in the stunting prevalence in the last decade. In earlier observational studies conducted in 2014-2015, we identified several key underlying problems with the potential to impact stunting in Sumedang district, West Java, Indonesia. Deficits in intakes of growth-limiting micronutrients were observed, most notably calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin A, emphasizing the need for a food-based intervention to overcome these micronutrient deficits in the diets of mothers and their infants. Methods: A double-blind placebo-controlled cluster randomised trial comparing the effect of daily consumption of 75 grams of locally produced micronutrient-enriched crackers (MEC) (intervention group) compared to placebo crackers (control group) by mothers at two-time intervals: (i) from the 8-14 weeks of pregnancy to delivery (i.e., 28-34 weeks of consumption of MEC) on birth length, and (ii) from the 8-14 weeks of pregnancy to 5 months post-partum on attained linear growth and linear growth velocity of breast-fed infants. A total of 324 pregnant women from 28 clusters (villages) located in 3 sub-districts in Sumedang district, West Java, Indonesia, will be randomly assigned to either intervention (n=14 villages) or control (n=14 villages). Discussi on: This will be the first study in Indonesia to use crackers based on powdered eggshells and chicken liver, in a form which is acceptable, safe, and has a long shelf life. If daily consumption of MEC for 6 months during pregnancy can enhance birth length, or their continued daily consumption for 5 months postpartum improves both attained and incremental linear growth at 5 months of age, then scaling-up in Indonesia may be considered. Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04564222 ; 25 th September 2020.

An integrated care systems model approach for speech and language therapy head and neck cancer services in England: service development and re-design in Cheshire and Merseyside.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) is increasing globally and changes in treatment mean that patients are living longer with the condition. It is recognised that while there have been improvements at the diagnostic phase of the pathway, follow-up and on-going care can be fragmented and inequitable. Integrated care models (ICMs) are acknowledged as beneficial. The National Health Service in England is moving to a model whereby services are being re-organised to integrated care systems. This paper reviews the literature and discusses potential models of care to enhance speech and language therapy (SLT) provision for patients with HNC in line with the emerging ICS. RECENT FINDINGS: The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to review service provision and SLT teams quickly adapted to offering remote support. Discussions are currently on-going to explore the potential for patient initiated follow-up via the PETNECK 2 trial and the Buurtzorg 'neighbourhood model' holds promise. SUMMARY: ICMs put the patient at the centre of care and have reported benefits for experience of care and clinical outcomes. Navigating organisational structures is complex. The Buurtzorg model provides a practical and theoretical framework to support organisational change.

A Sample of Female Adolescent Self-Identified Vegetarians in New Zealand Consume Less Protein and Saturated Fat, but More Fiber than Their Omnivorous Peers.

This study aimed to describe the intake and food sources of macronutrients in vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent females. Cross-sectional data was collected between February and September 2019. Adolescent females, aged 15 to 18 years old, were recruited throughout New Zealand. Intakes were assessed via two 24-h diet recalls, adjusted to represent usual intake using the multiple source method. Of the 254 participants, 38 self-identified as vegetarian. Vegetarians had similar carbohydrate and fat intakes compared to non-vegetarians; however, their protein intakes were 2.1% kJ lower (95% confidence interval (CI) -3.0 to -1.1%). Vegetarians also consumed 1.1% kJ less saturated fat (95% CI -2.1 to -0.1%), 1.3% kJ (95% CI 0.7 to 1.9) more polyunsaturated fat, and 5 g/day (95% CI 1.8 to 8.0) more fiber than non-vegetarians. When consumed, bread-based dishes and discretionary foods were the highest sources of energy, fat, and carbohydrate in both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. This suggests that some adolescents, including vegetarians, were obtaining high amounts of fat and carbohydrate from food groups associated with poorer dietary quality. We recommend further research to assess how the changing food environment is influencing vegetarian eating patterns and their associations with health outcomes in the wider population.

Designing Video Games for Nutrition Education: A Participatory Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the participatory approach used to inform the development of a video game designed to increase children's nutrition knowledge. The objectives were to (1) assess children's nutrition areas of focus, (2) explore parents' and children's perceptions of video games for nutrition education, and (3) collect information on children's video game preferences. DESIGN: Qualitative research design using 10 focus group interviews and 5 workshops. Children's nutrition knowledge and game player type were assessed by questionnaires. SETTING: South Island, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two primary school children, aged 7-11 years. Ten parents completed an online questionnaire. PHENOMENON OF INTEREST: Participatory approach in designing digital nutrition education resources. ANALYSIS: A general inductive approach was used to develop the themes. RESULTS: The following 3 themes were identified through thematic analysis: (1) positive impacts associated with video games for nutrition education, (2) factors for engagement, and (3) barriers for sustained use. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Both children and parents perceived that video games offered an avenue to increase nutrition knowledge. However, negative views such as screen time usage need to be addressed before widespread adoption. The participatory design approach provided information about game mechanics that will inspire the game design and enhance engagement of video games for nutrition education.

The assessment and management of globus pharyngeus.

Globus is the sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Investigation and management of patients with globus is widely variable. Most investigations yield negative results yet incur varying patient morbidity and healthcare costs, while malignancy is vanishingly rare in the absence of red flag symptoms and ear, nose and throat examination findings. History taking is key and can help to identify possible causative pathology, directing further investigations and management if necessary. Treatment of globus mainly centres on patient reassurance and counselling, and may include reflux management, neuromodulation, or speech therapy in selected cases, and treatment of any identified cause.

Multiple Micronutrients, Including Zinc, Selenium and Iron, Are Positively Associated with Anemia in New Zealand Aged Care Residents.

Anemia is a significant comorbidity for older adults not fully attributable to iron deficiency. Low-grade inflammation and other micronutrient deficiencies also contribute. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between nutrient and non-nutrient factors with hemoglobin and anemia in 285 residents (>65 years) of 16 New Zealand aged-care facilities. Blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, ferritin, sTfR, hepcidin, zinc, selenium, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), (with ferritin, sTfR, zinc and selenium adjusted for inflammation). Linear regression models examined the relationships between micronutrient biomarkers (iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin B-12 and D), age, sex, and health factors with hemoglobin. Thirty-two percent of participants exhibited anemia, although <2% had either depleted iron stores or iron deficiency. Plasma zinc and selenium deficiencies were present in 72% and 38% of participants, respectively. Plasma zinc and total body iron (TBI) were positively associated (p < 0.05) with hemoglobin, while gastric acid suppressing medications, hepcidin, and interleukin-6 were inversely associated. These relationships were maintained after the application of anemia cut-offs. These findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple micronutrient deficiencies as risk factors for anemia.

Nutritional Implications of Baby-Led Weaning and Baby Food Pouches as Novel Methods of Infant Feeding: Protocol for an Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The complementary feeding period is a time of unparalleled dietary change for every human, during which the diet changes from one that is 100% milk to one that resembles the usual diet of the wider family in less than a year. Despite this major dietary shift, we know relatively little about food and nutrient intake in infants worldwide and virtually nothing about the impact of baby food "pouches" and "baby-led weaning" (BLW), which are infant feeding approaches that are becoming increasingly popular. Pouches are squeezable containers with a plastic spout that have great appeal for parents, as evidenced by their extraordinary market share worldwide. BLW is an alternative approach to introducing solids that promotes infant self-feeding of whole foods rather than being fed purées, and is popular and widely advocated on social media. The nutritional and health impacts of these novel methods of infant feeding have not yet been determined. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the First Foods New Zealand study is to determine the iron status, growth, food and nutrient intakes, breast milk intake, eating and feeding behaviors, dental health, oral motor skills, and choking risk of New Zealand infants in general and those who are using pouches or BLW compared with those who are not. METHODS: Dietary intake (two 24-hour recalls supplemented with food photographs), iron status (hemoglobin, plasma ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor), weight status (BMI), food pouch use and extent of BLW (questionnaire), breast milk intake (deuterium oxide "dose-to-mother" technique), eating and feeding behaviors (questionnaires and video recording of an evening meal), dental health (photographs of upper and lower teeth for counting of caries and developmental defects of enamel), oral motor skills (questionnaires), and choking risk (questionnaire) will be assessed in 625 infants aged 7.0 to 9.9 months. Propensity score matching will be used to address bias caused by differences in demographics between groups so that the results more closely represent a potential causal effect. RESULTS: This observational study has full ethical approval from the Health and Disability Ethics Committees New Zealand (19/STH/151) and was funded in May 2019 by the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand (grant 19/172). Data collection commenced in July 2020, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2022. CONCLUSIONS: This large study will provide much needed data on the implications for nutritional intake and health with the use of baby food pouches and BLW in infancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620000459921; http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=379436. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/29048.

Associations between Zinc and Hemoglobin Concentrations in Preschool Children and Women of Reproductive Age: An Analysis of Representative Survey Data from the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) Project.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a worldwide concern. Nutritional deficiencies and inflammation are considered main contributors, but zinc deficiency has only recently been associated with anemia. OBJECTIVES: In this study we assessed associations between zinc status and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and anemia in preschool children 6-59 mo old (PSC) and nonpregnant women of reproductive age 15-49 y old (WRA) in population-based nutrition surveys. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 13 (PSC) and 12 (WRA) countries within the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) project were used. Multivariable linear models were constructed that included zinc status (plasma/serum zinc concentrations), Hb concentrations and anemia, iron status, age, sex, and inflammation (C-reactive protein and α-1-acid glycoprotein). Zinc was adjusted for inflammation in PSC according to the BRINDA algorithm. RESULTS: Data were available for 18,658 PSC and 22,633 WRA. Prevalence of anemia ranged from 7.5% to 73.7% and from 11.5% to 94.7% in PSC and WRA, respectively. Prevalence of zinc deficiency ranged from 9.2% to 78.4% in PSC and from 9.8% to 84.7% in WRA, with prevalence of zinc deficiency >20% in all countries except Azerbaijan (PSC), Ecuador (PSC), and the United Kingdom (WRA). Multivariable linear regression models showed that zinc concentrations were independently and positively associated with Hb concentrations in 7 of 13 countries for PSC and 5 of 12 countries for WRA. In the same models, ferritin concentration was also significantly associated with Hb among PSC and WRA in 9 and 10 countries, respectively. Zinc deficiency was significantly associated with anemia in PSC and WRA in 5 and 4 countries respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc deficiency was prevalent in most countries and associations between zinc and Hb in roughly half of the countries examined suggesting that strategies to combat zinc deficiency may help reduce anemia prevalence. More research on mechanisms by which zinc deficiency is associated with anemia and the reasons for the heterogeneity among countries is warranted.

Determination of modifiable risk factors for length-for-age z-scores among resource-poor Indonesian infants.

To reduce the burden of early-life linear growth faltering in low- and middle-income countries, interventions have focused on nutrition strategies, sometimes combined with water quality, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). However, even when combined, their effects on linear growth have been inconsistent. Here, we investigate potential predictors of length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) in a cohort of resource-poor rural Indonesian infants to inform the optimal strategies to reduce linear growth faltering. Apparently healthy rural breastfed Indonesian infants were randomly selected from birth registries at age 6 months (n = 230) and followed up at 9 (n = 202) and 12 (n = 190) months. Using maximum likelihood estimation, we examined longitudinal relationships among socio-demographic status, maternal height, infant sex, age, water source, sanitation facility, energy, protein, micronutrient intakes and biomarkers (serum ferritin, zinc, retinol binding protein (RBP), selenium-adjusted for inflammation), and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (systemic inflammation biomarkers) at age 6 and 9 months on LAZ at age 9 and 12 months. Stunting (LAZ <-2) at 6, 9, and 12 months was 15.7%, 19.3%, and 22.6%, respectively. In the full model, the predictor variable at age 6 months that was most strongly associated with infant LAZ at 9 months was maternal height (0.18 (95% CI 0.03, 0.32) SD). At age 9 months, the strongest predictors of LAZ at 12 months were improved drinking water source (-0.40 (95% CI -0.65, -0.14) vs. not improved), elevated AGP compared to not elevated (0.26 (95%CI -0.06, 0.58), maternal height (0.16 (95% CI 0.02, 0.31) SD), sex (0.22 (95% CI -0.02,0.45) female vs. male), serum RBP (0.12 (95% CI -0.01, 0.25) SD), and protein intake (0.17 (95% CI -0.01, 0.35) SD). Health promotion that includes exclusive breastfeeding up to the first six months and follows microbial water quality guidelines to ensure water intake is always safe should be considered.

Differences in Micronutrient Intakes of Exclusive and Partially Breastfed Indonesian Infants from Resource-Poor Households are Not Accompanied by Differences in Micronutrient Status, Morbidity, or Growth.

BACKGROUND: When maternal micronutrient intakes and statuses are compromised, reductions in micronutrient concentrations in neonatal stores and human milk may result in suboptimal micronutrient intakes, statuses, and functional outcomes of breastfed infants during the critical first 6-month period. OBJECTIVES: We compared the adequacy of micronutrient intakes and statuses at 2 and/or 5 months and morbidity and growth faltering at 2, 5, and 12 months in a cohort of exclusively breastfed (EBF) and partially breastfed (PBF) infants from low-resource Indonesian households. METHODS: At 2 and 5 months, the breastfeeding status and human milk intake of 212 infants were determined using the deuterium oxide dose-to-mother technique, and intakes were calculated from milk micronutrient concentrations and 3-d weighed food intakes. At 5 months, five infant micronutrient biomarkers, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, and α-1-acid-glycoprotein were measured. Infant morbidity, weight, and length were measured at 2, 5, and 12 months. Means, medians, or proportions were reported for each group and differences between groups were statistically determined. RESULTS: Median intakes of iron, thiamin, niacin, and vitamin B-12 were higher in PBF than EBF infants at 5 months (all P values < 0.05), but intakes in all infants were below adequate intakes. At 5 months, anemia was <20% in both groups, although fewer PBF versus EBF infants had vitamin B-12 deficiency (11.5% vs. 28.6%, respectively; P = 0.011). The mean ± SD length-for-age z-scores for EBF versus PBF infants at 2 months were 0.7 ± 0.9 versus -0.5 ± 1.1, respectively  (P = 0.158), declining to -1.4 ± 0.9 versus -1.1 ± 1.2, respectively, at 12 months (P = 0.059). Reported morbidity rates were generally low, with no evidence of a difference between infant groups (all P values > 0.126). CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of exclusive or partial breastfeeding status, micronutrient intakes of infants were low, statuses were compromised, and growth faltering during the critical 6 months period of early infancy was present. The findings highlight the importance of improving maternal nutritional statuses and evaluating their impacts on infant outcomes.

Modeling thiamine fortification: a case study from Kuria atoll, Republic of Kiribati.

In 2014, there was an outbreak of beriberi on Kuria, a remote atoll in Kiribati, a small Pacific Island nation. A thiamine-poor diet consisting mainly of rice, sugar, and small amounts of fortified flour was likely to blame. We aimed to design a food fortification strategy to improve thiamine intakes in Kuria. We surveyed all 104 households on Kuria with a pregnant woman or a child 0-59 months. Repeat 24-h dietary recalls were collected from 90 men, 17 pregnant, 44 lactating, and 41 other women of reproductive age. The prevalence of inadequate thiamine intakes was >30% in all groups. Dietary modeling predicted that rice or sugar fortified at a rate of 0.3 and 1.4 mg per 100 g, respectively, would reduce the prevalence of inadequate thiamine intakes to <2.5% in all groups. Fortification is challenging because Kiribati imports food from several countries, depending on price and availability. One exception is flour, which is imported from Fiji. Although resulting in less coverage than rice or sugar, fortifying wheat flour with an additional 3.7 mg per 100 g would reduce the prevalence of inadequacy to under 10%. Kiribati is small and has limited resources; thus, a regional approach to thiamine fortification is needed.

Qualitative and quantitative vibrational spectroscopic analysis of macronutrients in breast milk.

Raman and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were used to analyze 208 breast milk samples as part of a larger research study. Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out using chemometric methods: principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression. The obtained information on the main macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrate) were primarily evaluated in relation to the available metadata of the samples, where study location and respective primary food sources revealed a stronger differentiation in fat composition than its absolute content. The limitations and challenges of using both spectroscopic techniques for the type of analysis are also highlighted.

The Cancer-Associated ATM R3008H Mutation Reveals the Link between ATM Activation and Its Exchange.

ATM kinase is a tumor suppressor and a master regulator of the DNA damage response. Most cancer-associated alterations to ATM are missense mutations at the PI3-kinase regulatory domain (PRD) or the kinase domain. Expression of kinase-dead (KD) ATM protein solely accelerates lymphomagenesis beyond ATM loss. To understand how PRD suppresses lymphomagenesis, we introduced the cancer-associated PRD mutation R3008H (R3016 in mouse) into mice. R3008H abrogated DNA damage- and oxidative stress-induced activation of ATM without consistently affecting ATM protein stability and recruitment. In contrast to the early embryonic lethality of AtmKD/KD mice, AtmR3016H (AtmR/R ) mice were viable, immunodeficient, and displayed spontaneous craniofacial abnormalities and delayed lymphomagenesis compared with Atm-/- controls. Mechanistically, R3008H rescued the tardy exchange of ATM-KD at DNA damage foci, indicating that PRD coordinates ATM activation with its exchange at DNA-breaks. Taken together, our results reveal a unique tumorigenesis profile for PRD mutations that is distinct from null or KD mutations. SIGNIFICANT: This study functionally characterizes the most common ATM missense mutation R3008H in cancer and identifies a unique role of PI3-kinase regulatory domain in ATM activation.

Association of maternal diet, micronutrient status, and milk volume with milk micronutrient concentrations in Indonesian mothers at 2 and 5 months postpartum.

BACKGROUND: Maternal micronutrient deficits during preconception and pregnancy may persist during lactation and compromise human milk composition. OBJECTIVE: We measured micronutrient concentrations in human milk and investigated their association with maternal micronutrient intakes, status, and milk volume. METHODS: Infant milk intake (measured via a deuterium dose-to-mother technique), milk micronutrient and fat concentrations, and maternal micronutrient intakes were assessed at 2 and 5 mo postpartum in 212 Indonesian lactating mother-infant pairs. Maternal hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin receptors, retinol binding protein (RBP), zinc, selenium, and vitamin B-12 were measured at 5 mo (n = 163). Multivariate or mixed effects regression examined associations of milk micronutrient concentrations with maternal micronutrient intakes, status, and milk volume. RESULTS: Prevalence of anemia (15%), and iron (15% based on body iron), selenium (2.5%), and vitamin B-12 deficiency (0%) were low compared with deficiencies of zinc (60%) and vitamin A (34%). The prevalence of inadequate intakes was >50% for 7 micronutrients at 2 and 5 mo. Median milk concentrations for most micronutrients were below reference values, and nearly all declined between 2 and 5 mo postpartum and were not associated substantially with milk volume (except for ß-carotene, α-carotene, and ß-cryptoxanthin). At 5 mo postpartum, associations between maternal micronutrient status and corresponding milk concentrations reported as mean percentage difference in human milk concentration for each unit higher maternal biomarker were significant for hemoglobin (1.9%), iron biomarkers (ranging from 0.4 to 7%), RBP (35%), selenium (70%), and vitamin B-12 (0.1%), yet for maternal intakes only a positive association with ß-carotene existed. CONCLUSIONS: Most milk micronutrient concentrations declined during lactation, independent of changes in human milk production, and few were associated with maternal micronutrient intakes. The significant associations between maternal biomarkers and milk micronutrient concentrations at 5 mo warrant further study to investigate whether the declines in milk micronutrients are linked to shifts in maternal status.

Child undernutrition in households with microbiologically safer drinking water and 'improved water' in Tanna, Vanuatu.

The Sustainable Development Goal drinking water indicators include microbiological safety measures, whereas the Millennium Development Goal indicator 'improved water' may be microbiologically unsafe. In rural Vanuatu, we undertook household surveys, child anthropometry, and tested stored drinking water, to investigate relationships between water and undernutrition. Using Escherichia coli most probable number, we categorized results according to Compartment Bag Test drinking water cutoffs: <1/100 mL (safe), 1-10/100 mL (intermediate risk), >10-100/100 mL (high risk), and >100/100 mL (very high risk). Of 201 households, 191 (95%) had microbiologically unsafe drinking water, regardless of 'improved' status. We investigated cross-sectional associations between households with microbiologically safer drinking water (≤10 E. coli/100 mL) versus 'improved water' and undernutrition among children. Of children under 5, 145 (48.8%, 95% CI: 42.8, 54.8) were stunted and 59 (19.1%, 95% CI: 14.4, 23.8) were underweight. Among households with 'improved water', the adjusted prevalence ratio (95% CI) of stunting was 0.61 (0.46, 0.80) and underweight was 0.46 (0.29, 0.73) compared with 'unimproved water'. However, we found no association between having drinking water with ≤10 E. coli/100 mL at one point in time and undernutrition. Longer-term variations in water quality and unmeasured conditions beyond water may have contributed to these associations.

Red Blood Cell Folate Likely Overestimated in Australian National Survey: Implications for Neural Tube Defect Risk.

In 2009, the Australian government mandated the addition of folic acid to bread flour to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects (NTD)-affected pregnancies. In 2011-2012, the Australian Health Measures Survey (AHMS) reported a mean red blood cell (RBC) folate in women of reproductive age (16-44 y) of 1647 nmol/L. Over 99% of women had an RBC folate ≥ 906 nmol/L, a concentration consistent with a very low risk of NTDs if a woman became pregnant. However, RBC folate was measured using an immunoassay, which is not a recommended method due to questionable accuracy. The microbiological assay is the preferred method for RBC folate measurement. To determine whether the immunoassay method may have led to spurious conclusions about the folate status of Australian women, we collected fasting blood samples from 74 healthy non-pregnant, non-lactating women (18-44 y) and measured RBC folate using both the immunoassay and microbiological methods. Mean RBC folate (95% confidence interval) concentration measured with the immunoassay method was 1735 (1666, 1804) nmol/L compared with 942 (887, 1012) nmol/L using the microbiological method. No woman had an RBC folate < 906 nmol/L using the immunoassay method, whereas 46% of women had an RBC folate < 906 nmol/L using the microbiological method. The NTD risk was estimated to be 0.06% using the immunoassay method and 0.14% using the microbiological method. RBC folate using AHMS survey may have underestimated NTD risk in Australian women.

Diet and Nutrition Status of Mongolian Adults.

(1) Background: Aspects of the Mongolian food supply, including high availability of animal-source foods and few plant foods, are plausibly associated with disease in the population. Data on Mongolian diets are lacking, and these risks are poorly quantified. The purpose of this study was to provide a multifaceted nutritional analysis of the modern Mongolian diet. (2) Methods: The study population consisted of 167 male and 167 female healthy non-pregnant urban and nomadic adults (22-55 years) randomly selected from lists of residents in 8 regions. From 2011-2016, 3-day weighed diet records and serum were collected twice from each participant in summer and winter; anthropometry was collected once from each participant. Serum was analyzed for biomarkers, and nutrient intake computed using purpose-built food composition data and adjusted for within-person variation. Exploratory dietary patterns were derived and analyzed for associations with diet and nutrition measurements. (3) Results: We collected 1838 of an expected 1986 diet records (92.5%), 610/658 serum samples (92.7%), and 315/334 height and weight measurements (94.3%). Sixty-one percent of men and 51% of women were overweight or obese. Consumption of red meat, refined grains, and whole-fat dairy was high, while that of fruits, non-tuberous vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds, fish and poultry, and whole grains was low. Dairy and red meat were more consumed in summer and winter, respectively. Dietary inadequacy of 10 of 21 assessed nutrients, including fiber, folate, and vitamin D were >50% prevalent, while protein, zinc, and vitamin B12 inadequacy were low. Biochemical evidence of iron and vitamin A deficiency was also low. Three dietary patterns (Urban, Transitional, Nomadic) explained 41% of variation in food consumption. The Urban pattern was positively associated with BMI in multivariate analysis. (4) Conclusions: Results indicate a high prevalence of key dietary inadequacies and overweight among Mongolian adults. Prior studies by our group have suggested that expanded supplementation and food fortification would be effective in addressing micronutrient inadequacies; these strategies should be coupled with measures to mitigate the growing burden of chronic disease.