The Role of Micronutrients in Ageing Asia:What Can Be Implemented with the Existing Insights

Life expectancy as a measure of population health does not reflect years of healthy life. The average life expectancy in the Asia-Pacific region has more than doubled since 1900 and is now above 70 years. In the Asia-Pacific region, the proportion of aged people in the population is expected to double between 2017 and 2050. Increased life expectancy leads to an increase in non-communicable diseases, which consequently affects quality of life. Suboptimal nutritional status is a contributing factor to the prevalence and severity of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular, cognitive, musculoskeletal, immune, metabolic and ophthalmological functions. We have reviewed the published literature on nutrition and healthy ageing as it applies to the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on vitamins, minerals/trace elements and omega-3 fatty acids. Optimal nutritional status needs to start before a senior age is reached and before the consequences of the disease process are irreversible. Based on the nutritional status and health issues in the senior age in the region, micronutrients of particular importance are vitamins A, D, E, C, B-12, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. The present paper substantiates the creation of micronutrient guidelines and proposes actions to support the achievement of optimal nutritional status as contribution to healthy ageing for Asia-Pacific populations

Linking community-based programs and service delivery for improving maternal and child nutrition

Generic lessons from past experience with community-based nutrition programming relate more to processes adopted than to specific actions implemented -- more "how" than "what" -- with proactive community participation being a sine qua non for success. Progress has been made where community-based programs are linked operationally to service delivery structures. Government employees at such levels may be oriented to act as facilitators of nutrition-relevant actions that are coordinated by locally elected community-based mobilizers. This mobilizer-facilitator nexus should be supported and managed by a series of organizational structures from the grassroots to national levels. Community-government partnerships need to be forged through broad-based social mobilization and communication strategies. Policy makers should be more open to learning from community-based success so as to know how best to enable and sustain it. This paper describes the ingredients and dynamics of successful community-based nutrition programs including consideration of social mobilization strategies, project planning and design, management structures, implementation mechanisms, issues of monitoring, sustainability, replicability, and the nature of supportive policy.PRIFPRI3FCN

Linking Community-based Programs and Service Delivery for Improving Maternal and Child Nutrition

Generic lessons from past experience with community-based nutrition programming relate more to processes adopted than to specific actions implemented—more “how” than “what”—with proactive community participation being a sine qua non for success. Progress has been made where community-based programs are linked operationally to service delivery structures. Government employees at such levels may be oriented to act as facilitators of nutrition-relevant actions that are coordinated by locally elected community-based mobilizers. This mobilizer-facilitator nexus should be supported and managed by a series of organizational structures from the grassroots to national levels. Community-government partnerships need to be forged through broad-based social mobilization and communication strategies. Policymakers should be more open to learning from community-based success so as to know how best to enable and sustain it. This paper describes the ingredients and dynamics of successful community-based nutrition programs including consideration of social mobilization strategies, project planning and design, management structures, implementation mechanisms, issues of monitoring, sustainability, replicability, and the nature of supportive policy

Dei drammaturghi-concertatori: Diderot, Goldoni, Barone

Artículo de publicación ISIBackground: There are no internationally agreed recommendations on compositional requirements of follow-up formula for young children (FUF-YC) aged 1–3 years. Aim: The aim of the study is to propose international compositional recommendations for FUF-YC. Methods: Compositional recommendations for FUF-YC were devised by expert consensus based on a detailed literature review of nutrient intakes and unmet needs in children aged 12–36 months. Results and Conclusions: Problematic nutrients with often inadequate intakes are the vitamins A, D, B12, C and folate, calcium, iron, iodine and zinc. If used, FUF-YC should be fed along with an age-appropriate mixed diet, usually contributing 1–2 cups (200–400 ml) of FUF-YC daily (approximately 15% of total energy intake). Protein from cow’s milk-based formula should provide 1.6–2.7 g/100 kcal. Fat content should be 4.4–6.0 g/100 kcal. Carbohydrate should contribute 9–14 g/100 kcal with >50% from lactose. If other sugars are added, they should not exceed 10% of total carbohydrates. Calcium should provide 200 mg/100 kcal. Other micronutrient contents/100 kcal should reach 15% of the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization recommended nutrient intake values. A guidance upper level that was 3–5 times of the minimum level was established. Countries may adapt compositional requirements, considering recommended nutrient intakes, habitual diets, nutritional status and existence of micronutrient programs to ensure adequacy while preventing excessive intakes