Nutrition knowledge and nutritional status of primary school children in QwaQwa

Objectives: To determine the nutrition knowledge and nutritional status of primary school children attending a purposively selected school in rural QwaQwa. Setting: A purposively selected public school (n = 540) in QwaQwa. Subjects: A convenience sample of all 142 school pupils, aged from nine to thirteen years. Outcome measures: The measuring instruments included a nutrition knowledge questionnaire to determine the current nutrition knowledge, and a 24-hour recall to determine food and nutrient intakes. Anthropometric measurements included weight and height, measured using standard methodologies. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 11.2 years, and all had deficient intakes of all the nutrients, except for protein, carbohydrates and thiamine. However, 53.1%, 17.1% and 14.3% of the respondents did not meet 100% of EAR for protein, carbohydrates and thiamine respectively. The anthropometric results indicated that 2.8% of the total group of respondents was severely stunted, and that 11.3% were stunted. The BMI-for-age indicated that 12.0% were overweight, and more so among the girls (15.7%) than the boys (8.3%). The respondents showed average nutrition knowledge in the majority of the questions. Conclusions: This study observed malnutrition and average nutrition knowledge, with many gaps relating to aspects, such as the role of the various food groups in the diet and safe hygiene practices. Keywords: primary school children; nutrition knowledge; nutritional statu

Maternal waist circumference as a prediction of children’s stunted status

No abstract

Prevalence of and contributing factors to dyslipidaemia in low-income women aged 18-90 years in the peri-urban Vaal region

Objective: Determining the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and examining dietary and other contributing factors, namely hypertension, overweight and obesity, as well as abnormal blood lipid levels in women aged 18-90 years.Design: Cross-sectional baseline survey study.Setting: Peri-urban Vaal region.Subjects: Seven hundred and twenty-two randomly selected black women in four purposively selected settlements in the Vaal region.Outcome measures: Measurements included dietary intake (24-hour recall), anthropometric (weight and height), and blood pressure and biochemical indices (lipid profile) with venous blood samples. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests and regression analyses.Results: A large percentage (34.3%) of the women (aged 18-90 years old) was dyslipidaemic. The majority of women in the nondyslipidaemic group were overweight (52.6%). 86.2% of the women in the dyslipidaemic group were obese. The total fat intake was 20% of total energy intake in both groups. No significant differences were observed between the dietary fat intake variables between the groups. Body mass index (BMI) (ß = 0.554, p-value = 0.000), age (ß = 0.419, p-value = 0.000), education (ß = 0.250, p-value = 0.000), total energy intake (ß = 0.105, p-value = 0.006) and total fat intake (ß = 0.092, p-value = 0.018) were predictors of dyslipidaemia in these women.Conclusion: Dyslipidaemia was prevalent. High triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were the most frequent abnormalities. Although positive associations existed between the  prevalence of dyslipidaemia and the known risk factors of cardiovascular disease, such as ageing, hypertension, obesity and an abnormal lipid profile; BMI, age and education were the main predictors of dyslipidaemia.Keywords: cardiovascular disease, women, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, dietary fat intak

The impact of a nutrition programme on the dietary intake patterns of primary school children

Objective: The aim of this study was to improve the dietary intake patterns and food choices of children aged 9-13 years in a periurbancommunity.Methods: Two schools were randomly selected from within this periurban community. A nutrition education programme was implementedover one school term, with the testing of nutrition knowledge occurring pre- and post-intervention, and in the long term, with the experimentalgroup only. A validated 24-hour recall questionnaire was completed pre- and post-intervention by both the control (n = 91) and experimentalgroups (n = 81), and in the long term, by the experimental group. Food models were used to assist in the estimation of portion sizes andidentification of food items. The questionnaire was analysed using the computer software programme FoodFinder 3, with means and standarddeviations calculated for macro- and micronutrients, and comparisons made with dietary reference intakes for specific age groups. A list wasdrawn up of the 20 most commonly consumed food items, based on weights consumed. Paired t-tests were conducted to assess significancein dietary intake and food choices after the intervention. Correlations between knowledge and dietary choices were determined among theexperimental group in the long-term measurements.Results: Correlations linked protein intake to knowledge of proteins, and vitamin C intake to knowledge of fruit and vegetables. Fruit andvegetable intake remained very low. Refined sugars and fat were still consumed among the experimental group. The diet for both groups wasbased on carbohydrates.Conclusions: The objective of changing the dietary intake patterns of the children was not achieved. The intake of legumes, fruit and vegetables remained low. The lack of variety in intake results in a diet that does not meet the daily requirements of children

How diverse is the diet of adult South Africans?

The original publication is available at http://www.nutritionj.com/content/10/1/33Abstract. Background. The objective of the current study was to measure dietary diversity in South Africans aged 16 years and older from all population groups as a proxy of food security. Methods. A cross-sectional study representative of adults from all specified ages, provinces, geographic localities, and socio-economic strata in South Africa was used (n = 3287). Trained interviewers visited participants at their homes during the survey. Dietary data was collected by means of a face validated 24 hour recall which was not quantified. A dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated by counting each of 9 food groups. A DDS <4 was regarded as reflecting poor dietary diversity and poor food security. Results The provinces with the highest prevalence of poor dietary diversity (DDS <4) were Limpopo (61.8%) and the Eastern Cape (59.6%). By contrast, only 15.7% of participants in Western Cape had a low score. Participants in tribal areas (63.9%) and informal urban areas (55.7%) were by far the worst affected. There were significant differences in DDS by Living Standards Mean (LSM) analysis (p < 0.05) with the lowest LSM group having the lowest mean DDS (2.93).The most commonly consumed food groups were cereals/roots; meat/fish; dairy and vegetables other than vitamin A rich. Eggs, legumes, and vitamin A rich fruit and vegetables were the least consumed. Conclusion. Overall the majority of South Africans consumed a diet low in dietary variety. The tribal areas and informal urban areas were worst affected and eggs, legumes and vitamin A rich fruit and vegetables, were the least consumed.Publishers' versio

Social circumstances and cultural beliefs influence maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and child feeding practices in South Africa:

Maternal and child undernutrition remain prevalent in developing countries with 45 and 11% of child deaths linked to poor nutrition and suboptimal breastfeeding, respectively. This also has adverse effects on child growth and development. The study determined maternal dietary diversity, breastfeeding and, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and identified reasons for such behavior in five rural communities in South Africa, in the context of cultural beliefs and social aspects

The immune system and the impact of zinc during aging

The trace element zinc is essential for the immune system, and zinc deficiency affects multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. There are remarkable parallels in the immunological changes during aging and zinc deficiency, including a reduction in the activity of the thymus and thymic hormones, a shift of the T helper cell balance toward T helper type 2 cells, decreased response to vaccination, and impaired functions of innate immune cells. Many studies confirm a decline of zinc levels with age. Most of these studies do not classify the majority of elderly as zinc deficient, but even marginal zinc deprivation can affect immune function. Consequently, oral zinc supplementation demonstrates the potential to improve immunity and efficiently downregulates chronic inflammatory responses in the elderly. These data indicate that a wide prevalence of marginal zinc deficiency in elderly people may contribute to immunosenescence

Voices of the hungry: a qualitative measure of household food access and food insecurity in South Africa

South Africa is rated a food secure nation, but large numbers of households within the country have inadequate access to nutrient-rich diverse foods. The study sought to investigate households’ physical and economic access and availability of food, in relation to local context which influences households’ access to and ability to grow food which may affect the dietary quality. We sought to understand self-reported healthy diets, food insecurity from the perspective of people who experienced it, barriers to household food security and perceptions and feelings on food access as well as strategies households use to cope with food shortages and their perceptions on improving household food security

The effect of vitamins B12, B6 and folate supplementation on homocysteine metabolism in a low-income, urbanised, black elderly community in South Africa

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vitamins B12, B6 and folate supplementation at >100% Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for six months on serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels of an elderly urbanised black South African community. Design: An experimental, non-equivalent control group intervention study design was used in a 104 purposively selected sample. Two groups were compared: hyperhomocysteinaemic (hyperHcy) (n = 61) and normo-homocysteinaemic (normoHcy) (n = 43). Setting: Elders attending a day-care centre in Sharpeville, Gauteng, South Africa. Subjects: All subjects were equivalent in age (> 60 years), race (black) and unemployed/pensioner. Outcome measures: The following parameters were determined at baseline and after the six-month supplementation: serum Hcy, vitamins B6, B12 and folate levels, red cell count, mean cell volume, haemoglobin, haematocrit and the nutritional intake of vitamin B6, B12 and folate. Results: A very high incidence (66.36%) of hyperhomocysteinaemia was present in the sample. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) serum Hcy level in hyperhomocysteinaemic individuals decreased statistically significantly from 25.00 ± 8.00 umol/l to 18.80 ± 12.00 umol/l after the intervention. The number of respondents with an increased Hcy level decreased from 100% (baseline) to 67% after the intervention. Conclusions: It is concluded that supplementation of vitamins B6, B12 and folate is an effective Hcy-lowering approach to reduce hyperhomocysteinaemia in an elderly population, and thereby reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Summary The supplementation had a beneficial effect on the respondents’ serum vitamin B6 as well as their haemopoiesis (decreased macrocytosis)