The relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and markers of intestinal and systemic inflammation in undernourished and non-undernourished children, 6-59 months.

Background: Elevated inflammation contributes to growth faltering in children. Vitamin D (vitD) suppresses pro-inflammatory and enhances anti-inflammatory molecule production, thus vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been associated with heightened inflammation. In undernourished children, VDD and inflammation co-exist, however, little is known about their interaction.

Micronutrient supplementation practices in relation to the World Health Organisation 2013 guidelines on management of severe acute malnutrition.

In 2013, the World Health Organisation (WHO) updated the recommendations for micronutrient deficiency correction in hospitalised under-5 children with complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM). This study aimed to describe the micronutrient deficiency correction practices in relation to WHO 2013 recommendations. Data from medical records of under-5 children admitted for SAM management at two hospitals in South Africa and three tertiary hospitals in Ghana were extracted.

Effect of fatty acid profiles in varying recipes of ready-to-use therapeutic foods on neurodevelopmental and clinical outcomes of children (6-59 months) with severe wasting: a systematic review.

Context: In 2020, 13.6 million children under 5 years suffered from severe acute malnutrition (SAM)/wasting. Standard ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) improve polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status but contain suboptimal amounts of omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs with unbalanced n-6-to-n-3 PUFA ratios.

High-dose oral vitamin D supplementation for prevention of infections in children aged 0 to 59 months: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context: Vitamin D plays an important role in immune function, and the deficiency thereof has been associated with several infections, most notably respiratory tract infections. However, data from intervention studies investigating the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on infections have been inconclusive.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of evidence regarding the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation above the standard dose (400 IU) in preventing infections in apparently healthy children < 5 years of age.

Ready-to-use therapeutic foods for the treatment of malnourished children and infants.

Purpose Of Review: Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) allow effective community-based management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Current interest focuses on their optimal composition and use.

Recent Findings: Studies of alternative RUTF have yielded differing results.

Evaluation of the treatment guidelines, practices and outcomes of complicated severe acute malnutrition in children aged 0-59 months in sub-Saharan Africa: a study protocol for the SAMAC study.

Introduction: in hospitals across Africa, the case fatality rates of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have remained consistently high (over 20%), despite the existence of the WHO treatment guideline. This has been attributed to inconsistencies in the implementation of the WHO treatment guidelines in sub-Saharan African countries. In spite of this awareness, the SAM treatment guidelines adopted by various sub-Saharan African countries and hospitals are unknown.

Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for home-based nutritional rehabilitation of severe acute malnutrition in children from six months to five years of age.

Background: Management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children comprises two potential phases: stabilisation and rehabilitation. During the initial stabilisation phase, children receive treatment for dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, intercurrent infections and other complications. In the rehabilitation phase (applicable to children presenting with uncomplicated SAM or those with complicated SAM after complications have been resolved), catch-up growth is the main focus and the recommended energy and protein requirements are much higher.

Determinants of undernutrition prevalence in children aged 0-59 months in sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2015. A report from the World Bank database.

Objective: To determine undernutrition prevalence in 0-59-month-old children and its determinants during the period 2000-2015 in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design: Ecological study of time series prevalence of undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa assessed from 2000 to 2015.

Setting: Underweight and stunting prevalence from the World Bank database (2000-2015) were analysed.

Nutritional status as a central determinant of child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: A quantitative conceptual framework.

Child mortality is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and is influenced by nutritional status. A conceptual framework was proposed to explain factors related to undernutrition. Previously proposed conceptual frameworks for undernutrition do not consider child mortality and describe factors related to undernutrition from a qualitative viewpoint only.

Evaluation of the cytotoxic properties, gene expression profiles and secondary signalling responses of cultured cells exposed to fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by a range of fungi and are common contaminants of agricultural crops. These toxins are chemically diverse and structurally stable, enabling them to enter the food chain which can lead to numerous adverse health effects in animals and humans. Although mycotoxin exposure is associated with the development of several cancers, it has proved challenging to show a direct connection between exposure and oncogenic change.

Application and interpretation of multiple statistical tests to evaluate validity of dietary intake assessment methods.

Background: Several statistical tests are currently applied to evaluate validity of dietary intake assessment methods. However, they provide information on different facets of validity. There is also no consensus on types and combinations of tests that should be applied to reflect acceptable validity for intakes.

Mycotoxin exposure and infant and young child growth in Africa: what do we know?

Introduction: Infant and young child (IYC) growth impairment remains a public health problem in Africa partly because infants are exposed to staple foods (contaminated with mycotoxins) at an early age. Understanding the role of mycotoxins in IYC growth is vital, and this paper systematically reviews the available knowledge.

Methods: Studies were searched and included if they provided information on African IYC mycotoxin exposure rates and/or growth.

Development and evaluation of a sensitive mycotoxin risk assessment model (MYCORAM).

The differential risk of exposure to fumonisin (FB), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEA) mycotoxins to the South African population, residing in the nine Provinces was assessed during a cross-sectional grain consumer survey. The relative per capita maize intake (g/day) was stratified by gender, ethnicity, and Province and the probable daily intake (PDI) for each mycotoxin (ng/kg body weight/day) calculated utilizing SPECIAL and SUPER dry milled maize fractions representing different exposure scenarios. Men consumed on an average more maize (173 g/day) than women (142 g/day) whereas the black African ethnic group had the highest intake (279 g/day) followed by the Colored group (169 g/day) with the Asian/Indian and White groups consuming lower quantities of 101 and 80 g/day, respectively.

Association between funding source, methodological quality and research outcomes in randomized controlled trials of synbiotics, probiotics and prebiotics added to infant formula: a systematic review.

Background: There is little or no information available on the impact of funding by the food industry on trial outcomes and methodological quality of synbiotics, probiotics and prebiotics research in infants. The objective of this study was to compare the methodological quality, outcomes of food industry sponsored trials versus non industry sponsored trials, with regards to supplementation of synbiotics, probiotics and prebiotics in infant formula.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted to identify published and unpublished randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

A food photograph series for identifying portion sizes of culturally specific dishes in rural areas with high incidence of oesophageal cancer.

Rural areas of the Eastern Cape (EC) Province, South Africa have a high incidence of squamous cell oesophageal cancer (OC) and exposure to mycotoxin fumonisin has been associated with increased OC risk. However, to assess exposure to fumonisin in Xhosas--having maize as a staple food--it is necessary to determine the amount of maize consumed per day. A maize-specific food frequency questionnaire (M-FFQ) has recently been developed.

Ready-to-use therapeutic food for home-based treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children from six months to five years of age.

Background: Malnourished children have a higher risk of death and illness. Treating severe acute malnourished children in hospitals is not always desirable or practical in rural settings, and home treatment may be better. Home treatment can be food prepared by the carer, such as flour porridge, or commercially manufactured food such as ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF).

A proposed method to determine fumonisin exposure from maize consumption in a rural South African population using a culturally appropriate FFQ.

Objective: To develop an FFQ for estimating culture-specific maize intake that can distinguish between home-grown and commercial maize. Home-grown maize is more likely to be contaminated with fumonisins, mycotoxins that are associated with increased risk of oesophageal cancer.

Design: An existing FFQ developed for use in urban Xhosa populations was used as the initial framework for the maize-specific FFQ (M-FFQ).

Synbiotics, probiotics or prebiotics in infant formula for full term infants: a systematic review.

Background: Synbiotics, probiotics or prebiotics are being added to infant formula to promote growth and development in infants. Previous reviews (2007 to 2011) on term infants given probiotics or prebiotics focused on prevention of allergic disease and food hypersensitivity. This review focused on growth and clinical outcomes in term infants fed only infant formula containing synbiotics, probiotics or prebiotics.

Probiotics, prebiotics infant formula use in preterm or low birth weight infants: a systematic review.

Background: Previous reviews (2005 to 2009) on preterm infants given probiotics or prebiotics with breast milk or mixed feeds focused on prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis, sepsis and diarrhea. This review assessed if probiotics, prebiotics led to improved growth and clinical outcomes in formula fed preterm infants.

Methods: Cochrane methodology was followed using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared preterm formula containing probiotic(s) or prebiotic(s) to conventional preterm formula in preterm infants.