There should always be a free lunch: the impact of COVID-19 lockdown suspension of the mid-day meal on nutriture of primary school children in Karnataka, India.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020 resulted in school closures with eventual suspension of the mid-day meal programme, biannual deworming and iron-folic acid supplements. One year into the lockdown, we evaluated the impact of the withdrawal of these programmes on the nutritional status of rural primary-school children, aged 6-12 years, in Karnataka, India.

Methods: Anthropometry, haemoglobin, serum ferritin and C reactive protein were measured in 290 children at two time points, 1 year apart, starting from just before the lockdown (February 2020 to February 2021).

Calcium status assessment at the population level: Candidate approaches and challenges.

Inadequate dietary calcium intake is a global public health problem that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. However, the calcium status of a population is challenging to measure, and there are no standard methods to identify high-risk communities even in settings with an elevated prevalence of a disease caused or exacerbated by low calcium intake (e.g.

A Natural Low Phytic Acid Finger Millet Accession Significantly Improves Iron Bioavailability in Indian Women.

Iron deficiency and anemia are common in low- and middle-income countries. This is due to a poor dietary iron density and low iron absorption resulting from the high inhibitory phytic acid content in cereal and millet-based diets. Here, we report that a naturally occurring low phytic acid finger millet accession (571 mg 100 g), stable across three growing seasons with normal iron content (3.

Mid-upper arm circumference in pregnant women and birth weight in newborns as substitute for skinfold thickness: findings from the MAASTHI cohort study, India.

Background: Estimating total body fat in public hospitals using gold-standard measurements such as air displacement plethysmography (ADP), deuterium oxide dilution, or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is unaffordable, and it is challenging to use skinfold thickness. We aimed to identify the appropriate substitute marker for skinfold thickness to estimate total body fat in pregnant women and infants.

Methods: The study is part of a prospective cohort study titled MAASTHI in Bengaluru, from 2016 to 19.

Fractional iron absorption from enteric-coated ferrous sulphate tablet.

Background & Objectives: Iron supplementation is widely used public health measure to manage iron deficiency anaemia. In India, enteric-coated iron tablets are administered to adolescent boys and girls to avoid adverse effects such as gastritis, which reduces compliance, but this may result in poor iron absorption. Data on the absorption of iron from enteric-coated ferrous sulphate tablets are lacking.

Assessing bone mineral changes in response to vitamin D supplementation using natural variability in stable isotopes of Calcium in Urine.

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease of public health importance, particularly in low and middle income countries. Measuring the bone mineral balance (BMB) in a non-invasive manner, and its response to different interventions, is critical to the definition of optimal strategies for its prevention and management. In this study, we demonstrate the usefulness of natural variability in calcium isotopes (δCa) of urine and the derived BMB estimates as a biomarker of bone health and its responsiveness to interventions.

Effect of ascorbic acid rich, micro-nutrient fortified supplement on the iron bioavailability of ferric pyrophosphate from a milk based beverage in Indian school children.

Background And Objectives: Nutritional anemia is a significant public health issue with 50-80% prevalence in Indian children. Fortification of food, specifically milk, with iron is a potential approach to increase dietary iron intake. Ferric pyrophosphate [Fe4(P2O7)3] is organoleptically neutral and is less soluble in acid medium and, further, has low bioavailability in milk.

Continuous, real-time monitoring of neonatal position and temperature during Kangaroo Mother Care using a wearable sensor: a techno-feasibility pilot study.

Background: Remote biomonitoring of vital parameters in hospitals and homes has the potential to improve coverage and quality of maternal and neonatal health. Wearable sensors coupled with modern information and communication technology now offer an opportunity to monitor temperatures and kangaroo mother care (KMC) adherence in a continuous and real-time manner remotely for several days' duration in hospital and home settings. Using an innovative remote biomonitoring device to measure both temperature and baby position, we undertook a techno-feasibility study in preparation for a clinical trial.

Remote biomonitoring of temperatures in mothers and newborns: design, development and testing of a wearable sensor device in a tertiary-care hospital in southern India.

Objective: Newer technologies such as wearables, sensors, mobile telephony and computing offer opportunities to monitor vital physiological parameters and tackle healthcare problems, thereby improving access and quality of care. We describe the design, development and testing of a wearable sensor device for remote biomonitoring of body temperatures in mothers and newborns in southern India.

Methods: Based on client needs and technological requirements, a wearable sensor device was designed and developed using principles of 'social innovation' design.

Increased risk of iron deficiency and reduced iron absorption but no difference in zinc, vitamin A or B-vitamin status in obese women in India.

Purpose: Two objectives were investigated: (1) to assess the risk of micronutrient deficiencies in relation to weight status in Indian women with a focus on iron but also including zinc, vitamin A and B vitamins and (2) to compare fractional iron absorption between obese (OB) and normal weight (NW) women.

Methods: Part 1 was a cross-sectional study including 146 healthy, middle-class women from Bangalore, India, with a BMI between 19 and 40 kg/m. Anthropometrics and blood pressure were measured, and a fasting blood sample was obtained for the analysis of vitamin and mineral status, hepcidin, blood lipids and glucose.

The effects of regular consumption of a multiple micronutrient fortified milk beverage on the micronutrient status of school children and on their mental and physical performance.

Multiple micronutrient deficiencies exist in school going children in India and bridging the gap between nutrient intake and requirements is an effective way to combat the deficiencies. This study aimed to test the effect of a multi-micronutrient fortified malt and cocoa based milk beverage on the micronutrient status, cognition, physical performance and nutritional deficiencies of 7-10 years old south Indian children. A randomized, double blind placebo controlled study design was used with normal healthy children from low to middle income families, aged 7-10 years randomly assigned to receive either a multi-micronutrient fortified or an unfortified milk based control drink.

Inhibition of iron absorption by calcium is modest in an iron-fortified, casein- and whey-based drink in Indian children and is easily compensated for by addition of ascorbic acid.

Background: Calcium inhibits and ascorbic acid (AA) enhances iron absorption from iron-fortified foods. Absorption efficiency depends on iron status, although the interaction is unclear.

Objective: We investigated the ability of AA to overcome calcium-induced inhibition of iron absorption in children differing in iron status.

Effect of iron status on iron absorption in different habitual meals in young south Indian women.

Background & Objectives: Iron deficiency (ID) affects a large number of women in India. An inverse relationship exists between iron (Fe) status and Fe absorption. Dietary inhibitory and enhancing factors exert a profound influence on bioavailability of Fe.

Addition of zinc to human ejaculate prior to cryopreservation prevents freeze-thaw-induced DNA damage and preserves sperm function.

Purpose: To study the effect of addition of zinc to human semen sample prior to cryopreservation on post-thaw sperm quality and function.

Methods: Semen samples were collected from men attending university infertility clinic for semen analysis (n=109). Liquefied semen samples were cryopreserved in glycerol-egg yolk- citrate medium with or without the prior addition of zinc (100 μM) and stored in liquid nitrogen.

Effect of wheat flour fortified with sodium iron EDTA on urinary zinc excretion in school-aged children.

Background: Foods fortified with sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA) have been shown to improve iron status in children, but little is known about the effect of this salt on urinary zinc excretion, particularly in children. This is particularly relevant, since zinc deficiency is known to limit growth and development in young children.

Objective: To determine the effect of NaFeEDTA-fortified wheat flour on urinary zinc excretion.

Iron fortification of whole wheat flour reduces iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia and increases body iron stores in Indian school-aged children.

Wheat is the primary staple food for nearly one-third of the world's population. NaFeEDTA is the only iron (Fe) compound suitable for fortifying high extraction flours. We tested the hypothesis that NaFeEDTA-fortified, whole wheat flour reduces Fe deficiency (ID) and improves body Fe stores (BIS) and cognitive performance in Indian children.

Breast milk zinc transfer and early post-natal growth among urban South Indian term infants using measures of breast milk volume and breast milk zinc concentrations.

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in infancy and early childhood is of public health concern in developing countries. This study aimed to longitudinally assess Zn intake of urban South Indian term infants in the first 6 months of life using measures of breast milk (BM) volume and BM Zn concentrations and, additionally, to study the effect of BM Zn intake on infant length and weight gain. BM intake by the deuterium dilution technique, BM Zn concentration at months 1, 3 and 6, as well as serum Zn level at months 3 and 6 were assessed in 50 mother-infant pairs.

Multiple micronutrient-fortified rice affects physical performance and plasma vitamin B-12 and homocysteine concentrations of Indian school children.

Fortifying rice with multiple micronutrients could be a promising strategy for combat micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. We determined the efficacy of extruded rice grains fortified with multiple micronutrients on the prevalence of anemia, micronutrient status, and physical and cognitive performance in 6- to 12-y-old, low-income school children in Bangalore, India. In a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 258 children were assigned to 1 of 3 intervention groups to receive rice-based lunch meals fortified with multiple micronutrients with either low-iron (6.

Dual fortification of salt with iodine and iron: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of micronized ferric pyrophosphate and encapsulated ferrous fumarate in southern India.

Background: Dual fortification of salt with iodine and iron could be a sustainable approach to combating iodine and iron deficiencies.

Objective: We compared the efficacy of dual-fortified salt (DFS) made by using 2 proposed contrasting formulas-one fortifying with iron as micronized ground ferric pyrophosphate (MGFePP) and the other with iron as encapsulated ferrous fumarate (EFF)-with the efficacy of iodized salt (IS) in schoolchildren in rural southern India.

Design: After stability and acceptability testing, a double-blind, household-based intervention was conducted in 5-15-y-old children (n = 458) randomly assigned into 3 groups to receive IS or DFS with iron as MGFePP or EFF, both at 2 mg/g salt.

Iron absorption in young Indian women: the interaction of iron status with the influence of tea and ascorbic acid.

Background: Ascorbic acid (AA) enhances and tea inhibits iron absorption. It is unclear whether iron status influences the magnitude of this effect.

Objective: We evaluated the influence of the iron status of young women on iron absorption from a rice meal with or without added tea or AA.

An analysis of the etiology of anemia and iron deficiency in young women of low socioeconomic status in Bangalore, India.

Background: Anemia and iron deficiency are significant public health problems in India, particularly among women and children. Recent figures suggest that nearly 50% of young Indian women are anemic.

Objectives: Few studies have comprehensively assessed etiologic factors contributing to anemia and iron deficiency in India.

Extruded rice fortified with micronized ground ferric pyrophosphate reduces iron deficiency in Indian schoolchildren: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Iron fortification of rice could be an effective strategy for reducing iron deficiency anemia in South Asia.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether extruded rice grains fortified with micronized ground ferric pyrophosphate (MGFP) would increase body iron stores in children.

Design: In a double-blind, 7-mo, school-based feeding trial in Bangalore, India, iron-depleted, 6-13-y-old children (n = 184) were randomly assigned to receive either a rice-based lunch meal fortified with 20 mg Fe as MGFP or an identical but unfortified control meal.

Leucine requirement and splanchnic uptake of leucine in chronically undernourished adult Indian subjects.

Background: We showed previously by the 24-h direct amino acid balance (DAAB) method that the leucine requirement of well-nourished Western and South Asian subjects is approximately 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1).

Objective: It is not known whether this estimated leucine requirement is applicable in chronic undernutrition; therefore, we assessed the leucine requirement in Indian men with chronic, but stable, undernutrition.

Design: We studied 26 chronically undernourished men during 2 randomly assigned 7-d diet periods consisting of an L-amino acid diet (n = 20) and supplying either 14 and 30 (n = 10) or 22 and 40 (n = 10) mg leucine x kg(-1)x d(-1) or consisting of the subjects' habitual cereal-and-lentil-based diets (n = 6).