Global, regional and country trends in underweight and stunting as indicators of nutrition and health of populations.

Stunting and wasting provide indicators of different nutritional deficiency problems, the causes of which are well established. Underweight based on weight-for-age cannot distinguish between these two and is therefore not useful to target programs and has limited value for tracking progress. Stunting reduces later school attainment and income as adults and increases the risk of obesity and noncommunicable diseases in later life. Globally, the estimated number of stunted children is decreasing, but is not on track to meet the goal of 100 million by 2025 (165 million), and there has been little change in the number of children suffering from wasting since 2004. Stunting and wasting provide excellent indicators of inequity. For example, from 1990 to 2010, the number of stunted children in Asia declined from 188.7 to 98.4 million, while in sub-Saharan Africa there was essentially no change in prevalence, and the number of stunted children increased from 45.7 to 55.8 million. Recent global development movements are recognizing the need for robust measures of trends in nutritional status of children, particularly during the critical first years of life. Such measures are needed to track progress and improve accountability, and should be aspirational to mobilize sufficient investment in nutrition.

The effect of a 1-year multiple micronutrient or n-3 fatty acid fortified food intervention on morbidity in Indian school children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Few studies have shown that supplementation with micronutrients (MNs) or n-3 fatty acids may have health benefits such as reduced morbidity in schoolchildren. The effect of a combination of these nutrients has never been investigated. This study aimed to determine the effect of a combination of two different doses of MN and n-3 fatty acids on morbidity in schoolchildren in Bangalore, India. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In all 598 children (6-10 years) received foods fortified with either high (100% recommended dietary allowance) or low (15% recommended dietary allowance) MN, combined with either high (900 mg α-linolenic acid (ALA) plus 100 mg docosahexaenoic acid) or low (140 mg ALA) n-3 fatty acids for 1 year. Morbidity was measured by weekly self-reports using a structured questionnaire. Poisson regression analyses of episodes/child/year and duration/episode adjusted for age and sex were performed on clusters of symptoms, including upper and lower respiratory tract infections (URTI and LRTI), gastrointestinal complaints (GI) and general symptoms of illness to observe MN and n-3 fatty acid treatment effects. RESULTS: Children consuming high n-3 fatty acids had significantly fewer episodes of URTI/child/year (relative risk (RR)=0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79, 0.97) and significantly shorter duration/episode of URTI (RR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.85), LRTI (RR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.97), GI complaints (RR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.85) and general symptoms (RR=0.90, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.98) compared with children who received low n-3 fatty acid intervention. The high MN intervention reduced the duration of general symptoms (RR=0.89, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.98). CONCLUSION: Although n-3 fatty acids may be beneficial for reducing illness in Indian schoolchildren, more research is needed to confirm presence of combined effect with MN.

Essential fats for future health. Proceedings of the 9th Unilever Nutrition Symposium, 26-27 May 2010.

The 9th Unilever Nutrition Symposium entitled 'Essential fats for future health', held on 26-27 May 2010, aimed to review the dietary recommendations for essential fatty acids (EFA); discuss the scientific evidence for the roles of EFA in cognition, immune function and cardiovascular health; and to identify opportunities for joint efforts by industry, academia, governmental and non-governmental organizations to effectively improve health behaviour. This paper summarizes the main conclusions of the presentations given at the symposium. Linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) are EFA that cannot by synthesized by the human body. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is considered as conditionally essential because of its limited formation from ALA in the human body and its critical role in early normal retinal and brain development and, jointly with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some evidence for possible beneficial roles of n-3 fatty acids for immune function and adult cognitive function is emerging. A higher consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; >10%E), including LA, ALA and at least 250-500 mg per day of EPA+DHA, is recommended for prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). Two dietary interventions suggest that EFA may affect CVD risk factors in children similarly as in adults. To ensure an adequate EFA intake of the population, including children, public health authorities should develop clear messages based on current science; ensure availability of healthy, palatable foods; and collaborate with scientists, the food industry, schools, hospitals, health-care providers and communities to encourage consumers to make healthy choices.