Background: Anemia and micronutrient deficiencies remain major public health concerns among children in Ghana. Nutrient-rich food fortification offers a promising strategy to improve iron status and reduce inflammation. This study evaluated the effect of a 24-week egg powder–fortified Tom Brown meal on hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among school-aged children in the Wa Municipality. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 136 children aged 5 to 12 years. Children in the intervention group received egg powder–fortified Tom Brown 3 days/week for 24 weeks, while the control group consumed unfortified Tom Brown. The Shapiro–Wilk test ( P > .05) validated the normal distribution of all biochemical variables, thereby endorsing the application of parametric analyses. Baseline comparisons between groups showed no significant differences in Hb, ferritin, or CRP levels. Results: After the 24-week intervention, hemoglobin levels increased from 11.81 ± 0.83 to 14.67 ± 0.93 g/dl (P < .001; d = 2.602) in the intervention group, while in the control group, hemoglobin levels increased from 11.43 ± 0.85 to 12.53 ± 0.54 g/dl (P > .051; d = 0.519). Ferritin levels increased from 14.32 ± 2.07 to 18.87 ± 3.82 ng/ml (P < .001; d = 2.640) in the intervention group, compared to an increase from 12.24 ± 2.72 to 15.10 ± 2.11 ng/ml (P > .052; d = 0.699) in the control group. In contrast, CRP levels decreased from 5.87 ± 1.67 to 3.93 ± 0.99 mg/l (P < .001; d = −1.542) in the intervention group, while in the control group, CRP levels decreased from 4.97 ± 1.148 to 3.911 ± 0.93 mg/l (P > .052; d = −0.719). Conclusion: The 24-week egg powder–fortified Tom Brown intervention resulted in substantial improvements in hemoglobin and iron stores and a marked reduction in inflammation in school-aged children. The findings revealed that fortifying and integrating affordable, locally acceptable foods into school-based feeding programs can be a high-impact, scalable public health intervention for reducing anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in resource-limited settings.
This study assessed diet quality and physical activity levels in children and caregivers at the PAVILA shelter in northern Mexico. Researchers examined eating habits and exercise to determine whether they met healthy diet recommendations. The study included 27 children and 10 caregivers, analyzing their food intake, physical activity, and body measurements. Results showed that, on average, their diet quality was moderate (57.76 out of 100). Only 2.70% had a good-quality diet, 75.68% had an intermediate-quality diet, and 21.62% had a poor-quality diet. Participants ate few vegetables, dairy products, and fish, while their consumption of sugars and saturated fats was high. Children had worse diet quality compared to caregivers. Their eating habits did not meet national or international nutrition guidelines. These findings are important because a poor diet and lack of physical activity can increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart problems. The study highlights the need for better nutrition at the shelter, encouraging more nutritious foods and reducing sugars and fats.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often progresses to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), requiring interventions like dialysis. Nutrition plays a key role in CKD management by affecting metabolic and anthropometric outcomes. This study assessed dominant dietary patterns in hemodialysis patients using factor analysis and their relationships with anthropometric and metabolic parameters. This cross-sectional study included 300 adult hemodialysis patients selected through systematic sampling from dialysis centers in Ahvaz, Iran. Dietary intake was evaluated using a validated 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified 3 dietary patterns: Western, Mixed, and Traditional. Anthropometric indices (BMI, waist circumference) and metabolic parameters (lipid profiles, renal markers) were assessed. Multiple linear regression adjusted for confounders was applied. The Western Pattern was positively associated with higher BMI (+1.41 kg/m 2 , P < .001), WC (+3.67 cm, P < .001), total cholesterol (+11.81 mg/dL, P < .001), and LDL-C (+9.54 mg/dL, P < .001). The Mixed Pattern showed protective effects, reducing WC (−3.30 cm, P < .001), TC (−6.13 mg/dL, P = .004), LDL-C (−5.01 mg/dL, P = .001), and uric acid (−0.75 mg/dL, P = .03). The Traditional Pattern was linked to lower BMI (−1.57 kg/m 2 , P < .001), WC (−3.91 cm, P < .001), improved HDL-C (+1.73 mg/dL, P = .02), and reduced systolic blood pressure (−3.57 mmHg, P < .001). Dietary patterns significantly impact metabolic and anthropometric health in hemodialysis patients. Adopting culturally relevant dietary patterns like the Traditional Pattern may improve outcomes. Further longitudinal studies are warranted.
Background:Undernutrition is a type of malnutrition in which there are deficiencies in nutrient intake. It is caused by inadequate dietary intake and disease. Undernutrition contributes toward poor health outcomes of a child, and imposes a financial burden on the child's household. This study aims to determine under-five undernutrition prevalence, its inequality and associated socioeconomic and demographic factors in Uganda. Methodology:We analyzed secondary data of 2019/2020 Uganda National Panel Survey. From 815 households, selected 815 children under 5 who had complete data on age (months), weight (kilograms), and height (centimeters). This was used for computing the z scores. Based on the World Health Organization reference, we used the z scores to determine the children's nutritional status. We then compared households of malnourished and those of the well-nourished children using the student's t-test and the chi square (χ2) test respectively. Results:Among 815 children included in the study, undernutrition prevalence was 16.9% stunted, 6.1% wasted, and 11.8% underweight. This corresponds to catastrophic health expenditure being 1.1%, 1.7%, and 0.7% lower among households with stunted, wasted and underweight children respectively, compared to households with well-nourished children. The distribution was not statistically significant: ( χ 2 ( P ) = 2.331 (0.312)), ( χ 2 ( P ) = 0.863 (0.649)), and ( χ 2 ( P ) = 0.335 (0.846)), respectively. Conclusion:The odds of undernutrition didn't differ by nutritional status, but undernourished children had significantly higher transport expenses. MoH should invest in community healthcare services to reduce these costs.
Background: Undernutrition is a major issue among pregnant women, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence revealed that there is limited evidence in Ethiopia, particularly in the study setting. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of undernutrition and associated factors among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed among 401 systematically selected pregnant mothers who attended antenatal care from January to February 2021. A pretested, structured questionnaire, laboratory investigations, and anthropometric measurements were used for data collection. Data were entered into EpiData 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 26 software for analysis. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed. Variables with a P -value <.05 at a 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, the magnitude of undernutrition among pregnant women was 17.71% (95%CI: 14.0, 21.7). Lowest dietary diversity (AOR = 2.96; 95%CI: 1.20, 7.30), medical illness (AOR = 4.79; 95%CI: 1.20, 19.03), household food insecurity (AOR = 6.71; 95%CI: 2.80, 16.07), and intestinal parasite (AOR = 10.36, 95%CI: 4.37, 24.56) were factors associated with undernutrition. Conclusion: The study highlights that undernutrition among pregnant women remains a significant public health concern, emphasizing the need for targeted nutritional interventions during antenatal care. Thus, strengthening and enhancing early intervening modifiable factors of maternal undernutrition may help to improve both maternal health and pregnancy outcomes.
