Iodine deficiency remains a global concern for developing countries and some industrialised countries. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental retardation, posing a threat to the social and economic development of countries. Initiatives were developed and instituted to accelerate progress to achieve the goal of universal salt iodisation (USI). However, these efforts were not successful in eliminating iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in some countries. Every year, 50 million children are born without the protection that iodine offers to the growing brain and body and about 18 million suffer some significant degree of mental impairment. The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and non-governmental organisations assist to ensure that populations at risk have access to iodised salt. This paper will review the highlights of iodine deficiency and present the experiences in the various countries in Asia, i.e. assessments of the situation, action plans, and obstacles to implementation.
Deficiency Diseases ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Iodine ; deficiency

No abstract available.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Iron*

To determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency, the cross sectional surveys were carried out in 5922 subjects (4,043 males and 1,879 females) from 14 different ethnic groups of population in 11 provinces of Vietnam from 1996 to September 2004. Two methods with qualitative virual fluorescent test and rapid test were used. The samples from 559 individuals were independently and comparatively analyzed by two methods for calculating the Kappa index. The Kappa index of 0.081 reflected a high compatibeness of two methods. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency varied from area to area, and D6PD of males was much different from group to group population. There was no relationship between G6PD and malaria
Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; epidemiology ; deficiency

No abstract available.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Iron*

No abstract available.
Factor XII Deficiency* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency*

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Humans

Two groups of children aged 5 to 8 months having the same socioeconomic condition, their mothers have been attended in the courses of nutrition communication and education, one group (control group) was fed with home-made powder, the other group (intervention group) was fed with a meal of high micronutrient and energy dense powder per day, for 6 months. The results showed that after intervention, concentration of Hb, ferritin, serum zinc and retinol of intervention children were significantly higher than those of the control group. Prevalence of anemia, exhausted iron storage, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies of intervention group significantly lower those of control group. Body length and height for age z-score (HAZ) of the intervention group were significantly higher than length and HAZ of the control group. 6 months follow-up after intervention cessation revealed that the HAZ and Hb of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group, respectively. High micronutrient and energy dense powder may improve micronutrient deficiency and nutritional status of intervention children
malnutrition ; child ; Micronutrients ; deficiency

A meta-analyze on vitamin A (VA) and anemia surveys in the year 1995 and 2000. The results showed that anemis is reducing during the recent years, particularly more in pregnancy women, and less in young infants. However anemis is still a public health significant problem (PHS). Clinical VA lesions are continuously lower than PHS. While the sub-clinical VA deficiency is still a PHS, of which majority is in mild and moderate levels. It was recognized that the problem is more severe in young infant < 6 months. Low VA content in breast-milk is more than 50% among lactating women. The recommendations, such as social marketing on the using iron tablet, iron fortification into several foods have been developed for control of anemia; VA capsule supplementation of 50,000 IU to the infant < 6 months combined with immunization of PDT on 6, 10, 14 weeks; Increasing doses of VA for women after delivery. Weekly supplementation of iron combined with low dose VA to pregnance women
Vitamin A ; Anemia ; Vitamin A Deficiency

Evidences have shown that we are beginning into nutritional transition etape, and a double burden of malnutrition has been started. Protein energy malnutrion in children is still a continous challenge. Data collected in the past years showed that there is not a consistency in reduce of malnutrion between various region. The chronical deficiency of energy among women of reproductive age is a true problem of concern. In the next future, the deficiency of oligonutrients, of vitamin A, the diseases related to iron deficiency, iodine deficiency must be resolved. High body weight, obesity are increasing quickly, raising a new problem of public health in urban areas. In the large increase of chronical uncommunicable disease such as hypertension diabetes, cardiovascualr conditions, some cancers, metabolism disturbations, there is certainly the important role of the nutrition and life style
Malnutrition ; Child ; deficiency