Nutritional intervention on malnutrition in 3-6 years old rural children in Qazvin Province, Iran

Malnutrition is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in children. Not only include acute effects on children's health, but also it has long-term effects on their cognitive development and economic growth in the society. Wasting (weight for height with Z<-1) is one of the malnutrition indices in children. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a cooked meal for 175 days on the anthropometric indices of weight, height and weight for height (wasting) of 3-6 years old children in all the rural nursery of Qazvin province, in Iran. In this interventional study, 2385 children (48.8% female and 51.2% male) were recruited. Data were collected by a census in 2010. The children were received a cooked meal based on 360 +/- 20 kcal energy, 17% protein, 53% carbohydrate and 30% fat per day for 175 days at lunch time. The anthropometric indices were collected before and after the intervention. The results were analyzed using paired t-test by SPSS V.16 software. Prevalence of wasting (mild and moderate) and (sever malnutrition) after intervention reduced from 14.2 and 0.95-12.6 and 0.5%, respectively (p < 0.05). Receiving a cooked meal significantly decreased wasting (15.2-13.2%) in all children (p < 0.05). Nutritional intervention with cooked meal for 175 days had significant reduction in wasting in all children.

The effects of low calorie diet with soy protein on cardiovascular risk factors in hyperlipidemic patients

Serum lipid abnormalities are an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease in hyperlipidemic patients. Because of the side effect of long-term medications in these patients, soy protein, as a part of healthy diet, may improve their lipid profile. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of soy protein with low-calorie diet on lipid profiles in hyperlipidemic patient. Fifty two hyperlipidemic patients of both sex and age range of 25-65 years were participated. The patients received low-calorie diet based on 1400 kcal energy 18% protein, 24% fat and 58% carbohydrate per day for 4 weeks. The treatment group received low-calorie diet including (30 g day(-1)) of soy protein. Blood samples were obtained after an overnight (12 h) fasting period before the study and in the last day of the intervention period. Anthropometric indices and levels of serum triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein were measured before and after the intervention. In groups, weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences were significantly reduced (p<0.05) after four weeks. In comparison with control group, the results of treatment of soy protein with low-calorie diet showed that at the end of 4th week serum low-density lipoprotein was significantly (p<0.05) decreased while an insignificant reduction was seen in total cholesterol. This study suggest that soy protein with low calorie diet for 4 weeks treatment may be safe and effective alternative therapy for diminished the cardiovascular risk factors in hyperlipidemic patients.