Juergen Erhardt

This study was conducted to test the efficacy of a multiple micronutrient-fortified cooking salt. A randomized controlled trial with a pre- and post-test design was used to study children 5 to 18 years of age, with an experimental (n=213) and control group (n=189). The children were sampled from 3 residential schools and were studied for 9 months. The experimental group received a multiple micronutrient-fortified salt containing vitamins A, B(1), B(2), B(6), B(12), as well as folic acid, niacin, iron, iodine, and zinc. The control group received iodized salt. Biochemical measurements [hemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), serum transferrin receptor (sTfR), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), serum retinol, serum vitamin B(12), serum folic acid, serum zinc, and urinary iodine (UI)] were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Hemoglobin was measured in all the children three times during the study period, while the remaining biochemical measurements were performed in a subsample of children. Children between 11 and 18 years of age were given cognitive tests to assess memory and attention. There was a significant improvement (p<0.05) in all the biochemical measurements and memory tests in the experimental group when compared with the control group. Post-intervention in the experimental group, the increase in hemoglobin was 0.67 g/dL (p<0.05). Iron status and body iron stores increased significantly (p<0.05) in the experimental group compared to the control group, while serum zinc increased by 50 mug/dL (p<0.05), and the prevalence of retinol deficiency decreased from 57.1 % at baseline to 16 % post-intervention (p<0.05). The multiple micronutrients from the multiple micronutrient-fortified cooking salt were absorbed in the children and helped in combating micronutrient deficiencies.

We describe an improved method for the mea- surement of retinol in dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper. Retinol in human DBS on filter paper was analyzed by normal phase HPLC after a simple extraction method. Retinol asso- ciated with its binding protein was eluted from the paper into aqueous solution facilitated by ultrasonic agitation. Retinol associated with retinol

Background: Epidemiologic studies found that high tomato in- takes reduce the risk of colorectal cancers. This beneficial effect is assumed to be caused by high intakes of lycopene, a carotenoid with strong antioxidant activity that is present predominantly in tomatoes. Objective: We assessed the relation between plasma lycopene concentrations and colorectal adenomas, the precursors for most colorectal cancers. In addition,

Background: The effect of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) at birth on subsequent vitamin A status has not been studied. Objective: The objective was to study the effect of 50 000 IU vita- min A administered with BCG vaccine at birth on vitamin A status in both sexes. Design: Within a randomized placebo-controlled trial of VAS, we obtained blood from 614

Epidemiologic studies found that high tomato intakes reduce the risk of colorectal cancers. This beneficial effect is assumed to be caused by high intakes of lycopene, a carotenoid with strong antioxidant activity that is present predominantly in tomatoes. We assessed the relation between plasma lycopene concentrations and colorectal adenomas, the precursors for most colorectal cancers. In addition, the concentrations of 2 other antioxidants, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, were measured. White subjects undergoing a complete colonoscopy were included in the study (73 with adenomas, 63 without any polyps, and 29 with hyperplastic polyps). A detailed dietary history and information on alcohol consumption and smoking habits were collected from all subjects. Plasma lycopene, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were measured by using HPLC. Patients with adenomas and control subjects without polyps did not differ significantly in body mass index; intakes of energy, fat,...

Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), defined as weight-for-length z score between -3 and -2 or midupper arm circumference between 11.5 and 12.5 cm, affects ∼33 million children aged <5 y worldwide. The objective was to compare the effects of 4 dietary supplements for the treatment of MAM. Twelve community health centers in rural Mali were randomly assigned to provide to 1264 MAM children aged 6-35 mo one of 4 dietary supplements containing ∼500 kcal/d for 12 wk: 1) ready-to-use, lipid-based supplementary food (RUSF); 2) special corn-soy blend (CSB++); 3) locally processed, fortified flour (Misola); or 4) locally milled flours plus oil, sugar, and micronutrient powder (LMF). In total, 1178 children (93.2%) completed the study. The adjusted mean (95% CI) change in weight (kg) from baseline was greater with RUSF than with the locally processed blends and was intermediate with CSB++ [1.16 (1.08, 1.24) for RUSF, 1.04 (0.96, 1.13) for CSB++, 0.91 (0.82, 0.99) for Misola, and 0.83 (0.74, ...

The effect of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) at birth on subsequent vitamin A status has not been studied. The objective was to study the effect of 50,000 IU vitamin A administered with BCG vaccine at birth on vitamin A status in both sexes. Within a randomized placebo-controlled trial of VAS, we obtained blood from 614 children at 6 wk of age and from 369 mother-infant pairs at 4 mo of age. We assessed vitamin A status on the basis of serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) and measured serum C-reactive protein to monitor for concurrent infections. RBP concentrations indicated vitamin A deficiency in 32% of the children at age 6 wk and in 16% at age 4 mo. VAS was not associated with higher RBP concentrations overall or in either sex. However, the effect of VAS varied with maternal education (P for interaction = 0.004): At age 6 wk, VAS was associated with higher (9%; 95% CI: 2, 17%) RBP concentrations in children of noneducated mothers but not in children of educated mothers. Overall,...

Production of reactive oxygen species in the lumen of the colon, a process that is influenced by nutritional factors, may be important in the etiology of colorectal cancer. Because research on humans in support of this hypothesis is lacking, the objective of this study was to measure the effect of different dietary compositions on the in vitro oxygen radical production

Background: There is still uncertainty about the best procedure to alleviate iron deficiency. Additionally more reliable methods are needed to assess the effect of iron intervention. Objective: We examined the efficacy of daily iron (10 mg), daily and weekly multiple-micronutrient supplementation (10 and 20 mg Fe, respectively) in improving body iron stores of Indonesian in- fants. Design: Infants aged 6-12

For determination of the vitamin status via mass screening, simple and rapid methods are required. Additionally, blood samples should be obtained using simple and low invasive sampling techniques. To fulfill this existing methods have been modified to analyze retinol, tocopherols, beta-carotene, vitamin C and homocysteine in 20 microliters plasma. Blood samples were obtained via skin punctures. HPLC measurements were carried out with isocratic separation and precolumn derivatization. Intra and interday variation coefficients were below 8% and regression coefficients better than 0.99 for all measurements. The difference between venous and capillary samples were < 5%. In conclusion, the methods employed proved satisfactory for the determination of important nutritional parameters in blood samples obtained via skin punctures. These methods are therefore well suited for mass screening, especially under field conditions in developing countries.

The aim of this study was to validate two computerized methods of obtaining a diet history (DH and EBIS). The food consumption of 12 men and eight women was calculated by weighing each food item over a period of 8 days. Thereafter the diet history was taken over this period by using both programs alternatively. The intake of energy, protein, fat and carbohydrates, and 10 further nutrients was evaluated and the percentage difference calculated. In general, the intake of nutrients calculated from the diet history tended to be underestimated by most of the people interviewed. The mean daily intake of the nutrients calculated from the DH program deviates from -34% to +20% (mean SD = 48.1) and -35% to +15% for EBIS (mean SD = 28.1). In conclusion, both computerized methods proved useful for epidemiological studies, but not for the determination of deficiencies in individuals.