Anion-Exchange Method for Determination of Phytate in Foods: Collaborative Study

Phytate, a naturally occurring organic compound found in plant seeds, roots, and tubers, was determined in a collaborative study using a modified anion-exchange method. Seven samples (peanut flour, oats, rice, isolated soybean protein, a vegetarian diet composite, wheat bran, and whole wheat bread), supplied as blind duplicate samples, were analyzed in triplicate by 7 collaborators. Phytate concentrations in the samples ranged from 2.38 to 46.70 mg/g. Relative standard deviations (RSD = CV) for repeatability ranged from 2.5 to 10.1%, and for reproducibility, from 4.5 to 11.0%. The method has been adopted official first action.

Child malnutrition in Tigray, northern Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE

Estimate levels of and identify factors contributing to child malnutrition in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Rural communities from four zones of Tigray.

SUBJECTS

Three hundred and eighteen under five children representing 587 randomly selected households were included.

RESULTS

Among the children surveyed, 46.9%, 33.0% and 11.6% were stunted,underweight and wasted, respectively. Older children were more likely to be undernourished. Stunting increases from 16% in the second half of the first year to 53% in children 24 months and older. Similarly, underweight increases from 10% in the first six months to 36.5% in children aged 24 months and older. A very high proportion of the mothers (80%) initiated feeding of newborns with pre-lacteal feeds primarily butter or water. Family foods and cereal-based porridge were the main complementary foods after six months. Child age, maternal anthropometric characteristics, inadequate complementary foods, the use of prelacteal feeds and area of residence were the main contributing factors to child undernutrition.

CONCLUSION

Undernutrition gets worse as the children grow older. The energy and nutrient density of the complementary foods are low as the foods were prepared from a limited number of local staple cereals without the addition of sugar, fat/oil or animal products. More importantly, these foods are diluted with water to reduce their viscosity. This makes the quality and quantity of the foods insufficient to prevent stunting and underweight. Promotion of traditional household technologies such as germination and fermentation may be affordable measures to improve the quality of the complementary foods. Thus, sustained nutrition education programmes focusing on appropriate complementary feeding practices are recommended.

Vitamin A status of Thai children with measles

The acute impacts of measles on vitamin A status of children were assessed. Children with measles had significantly lower serum vitamin A, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and carotene concentrations than did controls. Thirty-two percent of the measles patients had serum vitamin A concentrations less than 10 micrograms/dl. Since measles and xerophthalmia have frequently been associated, vitamin A supplementation for measles patients is recommended particularly for malnourished children.