Community mobilization and social marketing to promote weekly iron-folic acid supplementation in women of reproductive age in Vietnam: impact on anemia and iron status

The community mobilization and social marketing program promoting a preventive approach of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation in women of reproductive age improved iron status of non-pregnant women in Vietnam. Three to six months of weekly pre-pregnancy supplementation and regular weekly intake of supplements during pregnancy allowed women to achieve good iron and hemoglobin status during the two first trimesters of pregnancy. In the third trimester, iron deficiency and anemia were notably present but low birth weight prevalence was low. This demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of the preventive approach as implemented here to prevent and control iron deficiency and anemia in women of reproductive age before and during pregnancy

Environmental conditions and culture method effects on growth and survival of juvenile winged pearl oyster, Pteria Penguin

Juvenile winged pearl oysters, Pteria penguin, were cultured for 6 mo in three commonly used culture units (panel nets, plastic mesh trays, and pyramidal pearl nets) at two dissimilar sites Pioneer Bay (a coral reef environment in which P. penguin are naturally present) and Cape Ferguson (a coastal semiestuarine area with high levels of silt deposition)- -to determine the effects of site and culture method on growth, survival, and fouling. Mean growth increases were recorded for the dorsoventral measurement (DVM), anteroposterior measurement (APM), shell thickness, and whole weight. At Pioneer Bay, five replicates for each of the three culture unit types were suspended at 3 m and at 6 m, and mean initial DVM was 28.0 [+ or -] 0.6 mm (n = 190). At Cape Ferguson, there were five replicates for each culture unit at 3 m only, and mean initial DVM was 28.0 [+ or -] 0.6 mm (n = 86). Mean growth increase at the end of the experiment for oysters at Pioneer Bay and Cape Ferguson, respectively, were 26.6 [+ or -] 1.0 mm and 32.6 [+ or -] 2.4 mm DVM. 29.6 [+ or -] 1.2 mm and 34.0 [+ or -] 2.9 mm APM. 6.7 [+ or -] 0.3 mm and 9.7 [+ or - ] 0.5 mm shell thickness, and 16.5 [+ or -] 0.7 g and 23.0 [+ or -] 2.1 g whole weight. For all growth parameters, mean increase was significantly higher under high- turbidity conditions at Cape Ferguson (P < 0.05). Culture unit also affected growth, with oysters held in mesh trays showing significantly more growth at both sites (P< 0.05). Mean survival of oysters at Cape Ferguson (96.5%) was significantly higher than at Pioneer Bay (79.4%). Depth had no significant effect on growth, survival, or fouling. The results indicate that site selection and culture unit are important parameters for optimizing growth and survival during nursery phase culture of P. penguin

Beyond recommendations: implementing food-based dietary guidelines for healthier populations.

To reduce the increased burden of diet-related disease and promote human potential through food and nutrition globally, harmonization of efforts is urgently needed. This article examines the concept of food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) and discusses the possibilities and challenges of harmonizing the process of developing and implementing dietary guidelines. The authors argue that while the development of FBDGs has contributed to the understanding of the role of nutrients and foods in achieving optimal health, the impact of these guidelines on human health has been limited. Science or evidence must be used in FBDG development; nevertheless, there are limitations in current nutrition science. FBDGs should address the health consequences of dietary insufficiency, excess, or imbalance with a broader perspective, considering the totality of the effects of a given dietary pattern, rather than focusing on single nutrients alone. Moreover, the food selection guideline should be seen as complementary to a strategic, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate dietary and health promoting intervention, and not only as a tool for providing nutrition policy and information. Technically, a single unified global set of FBDGs may be desirable and even achievable. This concept, however, presents novel challenges on how to address cultural diversity and the complex social, economic, and political interactions between humans and the food supply, not to mention the complexity of its communication and implementation. Therefore, global harmonized efforts in support of strategic dietary interventions, together with strong global scientific support and facilitation for the development and communication of FBDGs at national or regional levels, are proposed to implement FBDGs for healthier populations