Predictors of vitamin D status and its association with parathyroid hormone in young New Zealand children.

BACKGROUND: Despite increased awareness of the adverse health effects of low vitamin D status, few studies have evaluated 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status in young children. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess vitamin D status on the basis of 25(OH)D and its relation with parathyroid hormone (PTH) and to identify possible predictors of 25(OH)D status in young children living in a country with minimal vitamin D fortification. DESIGN: Serum 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations were measured in a cross-sectional sample of children aged 12-22 mo [n = 193 for 25(OH)D, n = 144 for PTH] living in Dunedin, New Zealand (latitude: 45 degrees S). Anthropometric, dietary, and sociodemographic data were collected. RESULTS: The majority of children sampled in the summer (94%; 47 of 50) had 25(OH)D >50 nmol/L; however, nearly 80% of children sampled in the winter (43 of 55) had serum concentrations 60-65 nmol/L, a plateau in PTH was evident. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal variation in 25(OH)D concentration implies that postsummer vitamin D stores were insufficient to maintain status >50 nmol/L year-round. Examination of the predictors of 25(OH)D in our model shows few modifiable risk factors, and thus effective dietary strategies may be required if future research determines that children with 25(OH)D concentrations <50 nmol/L are at significant health risk. This trial was registered at www.actr.org.au as ACTRN12605000487617

Iodine status in pre-school children prior to mandatory iodine fortification in Australia

The iodine status of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years has been routinely assessed in many countries, but few studies have examined iodine status in pre-school children. We conducted a cross-sectional study of pre-school children living in Adelaide, South Australia, between 2005 and 2007. Children 1–5 years old were identified using a unique sampling strategy to ensure that the study population was representative. A 3-day weighed diet record, a blood sample and a urine sample were obtained from each child. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of the children (n = 279) was 129 µg L⁻¹, indicating iodine sufficiency (normal range: 100–199 µg L⁻¹), but 35% of the children had a UIC < 100 µg L−1. The median thyroglobulin concentration of children (n = 217) was 24 µg L⁻¹ and thyroglobulin concentration declined with increasing age (P = 0.024). The mean daily iodine intake was 76 µg. The intake of iodine was lower than expected and highlights difficulties in accurately assessing iodine intakes. Further studies are needed to monitor dietary changes and iodine status in this age group since the implementation of mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt in Australia in 2009.Sheila Skeaff, Ying Zhao, Robert Gibson, Maria Makrides, Shao Jia Zho

Guide on Developing Climate-Smart Map and Adaptation Plan (CS-MAP)

An instructional video (in Vietnamese language) on how to develop and implement the Climate-Smart Map and Adaptation Plan (CS-MAP). Using participatory tools, CS-MAP serves as a guide for local communities to develop their own risk maps and adaptive plans, which cater to their respective local contexts. The five key steps to develop the CS-MAP are: (1) define climate-related risks; (2) define the border of risk extents; (3) recommend adaptation plans; (4) modify climate-smart maps and adaptation plans; and (5) integrate outcomes at the sub-regional and regional levels. This video is produced by CCAFS Southeast Asia and the Department of Crop Production-Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Climate-Smart Maps and Adaptation Plans (CS MAP) of the 13 provinces in Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta

Climate-Smart Maps and Adaptation Plans (CS MAP), a participatory approach developed by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the Department of Crop Production of Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, engages experts from the national and local levels to: identify climate-related risks; determine potential affected areas and their risk levels using technical, infrastructure and topographic data, and local knowledge; assess and improve proposed adaptive measures; and develop integrated adaptation plans for rice production from regional to provincial levels. Maps of flooding and salinity intrusion risks were developed by integrating scientific evidence provided by researchers and experts with local knowledge of stakeholders on topography, infrastructure, hydrological management schemes, and land use plans. Based on the risk maps, adaptive rice production calendars for moderate intensity and duration (normal year) and extreme intensity and prolonged duration (severe year) were generated. Through a series of consultations with provincial and regional stakeholders, the cropping schedules were proposed, not only to address various climate-related risks, but also to ensure sharing of resources and harmonization of policies concerning water, labor, infrastructure, and information

Climate-Smart Maps and Adaptation Plans (CS MAP) of the 7 provinces in Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta

Using the Climate-Smart Maps and Adaptation Plans (CS MAP) methodology, CCAFS Southeast Asia and the Department of Crop Production of Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, updated the maps of drought and salinity intrusion risks (both for normal and extreme years) for rice production areas in the drought-prone provinces of: Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, Soc Trang, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, and Vinh Long

Quantities of foods consumed by 12- to 24-month-old New Zealand children

Aim: The present study aimed to estimate small, median and large daily quantities of frequently consumed foods and identify which food groups are important sources of key micronutrients for 12- to 24-month-old New Zealand children. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in three cities in the South Island of New Zealand. Healthy toddlers (n = 188) were randomly selected using multistage sampling. Three non-consecutive 1-day weighed food records were collected from each child and the frequencies and daily quantities of foods and beverages, and important sources of iron and zinc, were determined. Results: Fifty percent or more of the children consumed the following foods at least once over 3 days (median gram intake among toddlers who consumed the food): milk (366 g), white bread (29 g), banana (70 g), potato (34 g), cheese (12 g), apple (39 g), 'Weetbix' whole-wheat breakfast cereal (16 g), yeast extract spread ('Marmite', 'Vegemite') (2 g), carrot (17 g) and margarine (4 g). Dairy, cereals and the meat/fish/poultry/eggs/nuts food group were the most important sources of iron and zinc in the toddlers' diets, providing 69.1% of iron and 86.3% of zinc. Conclusion: This research provides dietitians, other health professionals, researchers and policy-makers with detailed information on daily quantities of foods and beverages frequently consumed by toddlers that can be used for dietetic counselling, dietary assessment, and to develop food-based dietary guidelines specifically for toddlers

Tập bản đồ rủi ro và Kế hoạch thích ứng với biến đổi khí hậu cho sản xuất lúa và hoa màu ngắn ngày vùng Duyên hải Nam Trung bộ và Tây Nguyên

Tập bản đồ rủi ro và kế hoạch thích ứng với biến đổi khí hậu vùng Duyên hải Nam Trung bộ và Tây Nguyên” trình bày nguy cơ hạn hán và thiếu nước sản xuất đối với lúa và hoa màu ngắn ngày dưới tác động của 3 kịch bản nguồn nước khác nhau, và kế hoạch thích ứng tương ứng với từng vùng rủi ro. Tập bản đồ này bao gồm 8 tỉnh vùng Duyên hải Nam Trung bộ và 2 tỉnh Tây Nguyên. Tập bản đồ được xây dựng năm 2020 và 2021, kết hợp giữa phương pháp thống kê, mô hình hóa và lập bản đồ có sự tham gia, do Cục Trồng trọt phối hợp với Chương trình CCAFS Đông Nam Á, Liên minh Tổ chức đa dạng sinh học Quốc tế và CIAT chủ trì, Viện Quy hoạch Thủy lợi là đơn vị thực hiện

Tập bản đồ rủi ro thiếu nước phục vụ sản xuất cho cây trồng lâu năm khu vực miền núi Bắc bộ: Nghiên cứu thí điểm tại huyện Mai Sơn (Sơn La) và huyện Cao Phong (Hòa Bình)

“Tập bản đồ rủi ro thiếu nước phục vụ sản xuất cho cây trồng lâu năm khu vực miền núi Bắc bộ: Nghiên cứu thí điểm tại huyện Mai Sơn (Sơn La) và huyện Cao Phong (Hòa Bình)” là sản phẩm của nghiên cứu thí điểm ứng dụng phương pháp CS-MAP cho cây ăn quả, trong đó kết hợp giữa phương pháp thống kê, mô hình hóa, viễn thám và lập bản đồ có sự tham gia. Tập bản đồ trình bày chi tiết về dữ liệu, phương pháp nghiên cứu, kết quả bước đầu, ưu điểm, nhược điểm và định hướng nghiên cứu trong tương lai cho cây trồng lâu năm. Nghiên cứu này được tiến hành năm 2021, do Cục Trồng trọt phối hợp với Chương trình CCAFS Đông Nam Á chủ trì, Viện Quy hoạch Thủy lợi là đơn vị thực hiện