Humans ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Nutritional Sciences

This paper summarizes the studies on improving crop nutritional quality including protein, saccharide and lipid through gene engineering in recent 10 years. Special emphasis is laid upon the improvement of protein contains and amino acid components. The food safety caused probably by gene engineering and some ways to solve the problem are introduced briefly.
Crops, Agricultural ; Genetic Engineering ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Weaning

Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Weaning

Introduction: An effective participatory community nutrition programme to improve poor food intake and sub-optimal complementary feeding practices in the Philippines is wanting. The use of the recipe trial as an approach was explored. Methods: The protocol was conducted nine times in three communities in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Zamboanga del Sur among 83 caregivers of children 6-8, 9-11, and 12-23 months old. The protocol implemented followed these steps: (1) Preparatory activities; (2) Recipe Trial 1 (RT1); ( 3) Recipe Trial 2 (RT2); and (4) Follow-up visit. Results: The use of the modified RT to improve complementary feeding was evaluated in terms of the quality of the improved recipes and the overall feasibility of the RT technique. The RT1s identified rice porridge as complementary food usually prepared in the three areas across age groups, followed by cooked rice mixed with broth from the family pot. The RT2s facilitated the caregivers’ modification of the 12 complementary foods from the three communities. Nutrient content was improved while maintaining acceptability among caregivers and their children. The follow-up visits showed that the adoption of the recipes at the households was limited to a few caregivers. Conclusions: The modified RT protocol has good potential to help alleviate poor nutrition among infants and young children in the Philippines. Minor improvements, characterised by an increase in local adoption and provision of enabling mechanisms from the local government units should contribute to the success of its implementation.
Caregivers ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Philippines

Objective. This study was conducted to determine the dietary diversity score and its relation to nutritional adequacy among 16-19 year-old adolescents. Methods. Secondary data analyses were undertaken with a representative sample of 16-19 year-old adolescents (n=521) in a university campus in Manila in 2008. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) were calculated. Nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) is the ratio of subject's nutrient intake to the 2002 Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI) for Filipinos. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated as the sum of NARs for all evaluated nutrients divided by the number of nutrients evaluated, expressed as a ratio (range from 0-1). MAR was used as a measure of adequacy of overall diet. Pearson correlation coefficients between DDS and MAR were calculated and also evaluated for sensitivity and specificity, with MAR taken as the ideal standard of adequate intake. Results. The adolescents had a mean DDS of 3.94 (1.21) and a mean MAR of 0.67 (0.18). There was a strong correlation between MAR and DDS (r=0.543; P < 0.0001). A DDS of 4 was shown to be the best indicators for both MAR equivalent to 0.5 and 0.7 since they provided the best sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion. DDS can be used as a simple and quick indicator of the nutritional adequacy of the diets among these group of adolescents. Further investigation of this tool is needed for other population groups i.e., adults and elderly.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; DIET ; ADOLESCENT NUTRITIONAL PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA ; PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA ; NUTRITIONAL PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA ; DIET THERAPY

Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatology ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Food ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Guidelines as Topic ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Background: As the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) continues to affect the capacity of the health system to deliver essential nutrition and health services, many countries, especially the low- and middle-income countries, including the Philippines, are beset with addressing undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among children. Objective: The rapid nutrition assessment survey (RNAS) was conducted in selected areas in the Philippines to provide evidence of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's participation in the nutrition services and their mothers' knowledge level on nutrition. Methodology: The RNAS was a cross-sectional survey conducted through phone interviews in nine (9) selected areas in the Philippines. A total of 7,092 children aged 0 to 12 years were included in the survey, of which 5,239 mothers and caregivers were interviewed regarding nutrition program participation of their children, and their knowledge on nutrition. Results: A significant decline in children's participation in the Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus (83.0% vs. 51.1%), Vitamin A supplementation (65.4% vs. 54.9%), supplementary feeding (21.6% vs. 11.9%), and deworming (60.4% vs. 11.9%) was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic based on RNAS as compared to the pre-pandemic period using the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS). The most commonly cited reasons for health service disruptions include: child did not visit health centers due to fear of infection, community health workers did not visit the child at home, and no available health workers in the facility. Stunting among children was more likely to be perceived by food insecure (19.7% vs 14.4%; p <0.001) and poor (22.1% vs 16.6%; p<0.000) mothers or caregivers than their counterpart mothers from food secure and rich households. Conclusion With prolonged limited access to health and nutrition services, children, particularly those from poor households, are at risk of hunger, malnutrition, and consequently, of not developing their full potential. Findings can guide efforts to ensure the continuity of essential health and nutrition services towards improving maternal knowledge and promotion of child health and nutrition during the COVID-19 outbreak and crisis recovery period.
COVID-19 ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Community Health Workers