Postnatal growth following prenatal lead exposure and calcium intake.

Background: The effects on postnatal growth of maternal exposure to low levels of lead during pregnancy have not been well established. In addition, information is limited regarding the protective effect of dietary calcium intake during pregnancy against the effect of lead for fetal and postnatal growth. We investigated the relationship between prenatal exposure to lead and growth at birth and 6, 12, and 24 months postnatal, and evaluated the role of calcium intake against the effect of lead.

Waist circumference percentiles in 2-18 year old Indian children.

Objectives: To develop reference percentile curves in Indian children for waist circumference (WC), and to provide a cutoff of WC percentile to identify children at risk for metabolic syndrome (MS).

Study Design: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed in 5 major Indian cities. Height, weight, and blood pressure (BP) were measured in 10,842 children (6065 boys).

Beneficial effect of iron pot cooking on iron status.

Objectives: To develop iron rich snacks using locally available iron rich foods and analyze their iron content when cooked in iron pots. Further, the efficacy of the developed snacks, cooked in iron pots was examined on the hemoglobin status of pre-school children through a three month randomized trial.

Methods: Four iron rich snacks (mean iron content 2.