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Background and Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the association between obesity and chronic low grade inflammation (CLGI) measured by Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) as a proxy indicator of CLGI among obese and non-obese teachers., Methods and Study Design: We conducted a cross sectional study among 128 non-obese (BMI <25) and 116 obese (BMI >=25) female teachers aged 25-60 years from six urban schools in Yangon, Myanmar between January and March 2015. Usual dietary intake was collected by 3-day nonconsecutive estimated 24 hour's dietary records and semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaires. Adapted DII was calculated by standardized methods using literature-derived population-based dietary inflammatory weights of 31 food parameters. C-reactive protein (CRP) was analysed by a sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. Mean DII between obese and non-obese was compared by independent t test. The association between obesity indices and high DII (DII >=1.1) and high CRP (>3 mg/L) were investigated by logistic regression., Results: Obese teachers had lower intakes of anti-inflammatory nutrients (vitamin B-6, vitamin A and zinc)/food (onion) compared with non-obese teachers (p<0.05) and obesity was significantly associated with CRP (Odd ratio (OR)=5.5, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.2-24.1, p=0.02). However, there was no significant association between obesity and DII (OR=1.4, 95% CI -0.8-2.3, p=0.23)., Conclusions: Role of antiinflammatory foods should be promoted for prevention of obesity and related diseases. Further use of DII among Myanmar general population for prevention of obesity and its related diseases should be explored with longitudinal studies.

Background/aims: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are regarded as essential for child cognition. Genetic variation in fatty acid (FA) desaturase enzyme (FADS) has been recognized as an important effect modifier in the relation between LC-PUFA and child cognitive function. This study aimed to identify the distribution of genetic variant (genotype) SNP rs174468 and to assess plasma FA and developmental outcome by the genotype among under-2 year old Sasaknese Indonesian children., Methods: Data was collected at baseline of a randomized trial (NUPICO, clinicaltrials.gov NCT01504633) in East Lombok district, Indonesia. Breastfed, 12- 17 month old children were recruited and 240 subjects were included in the study. Child cognition was assessed as Bayley Mental Developmental Index (MDI)., Results: From 206 subjects whose blood samples can be collected, only two genotypes were found (90.3% GG homozygotes, 9.7% AG heterozygotes), and minor allele AG was significantly associated with higher level of arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6), n-6 LC-PUFA and FADS1 index. MDI score was associated with a FADS2 index (DHA:EPA ratio) but not genotype (Adjusted R-square= 0.043)., Conclusions: FADS2 index was associated with cognitive function. No difference was found between children with GG and AG genotypes who were all breastfed and not low birth weight.

Objective: Anaemia is one of major nutritional problems in Myanmar affecting all age groups. However, there is lack of recent information and a study was conducted to acquire information on the current status of anaemia among adolescent schoolgirls in Nyaung Done township, Ayeyarwady division where an intervention study was planned., Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1269 subjects to obtain complete blood count, anthropometry and socioeconomic characteristics were obtained by questionnaire. Using red cell indices, we applied Bessman's, and Green and King's index classification to differentiate the types of anaemia. Electrophoresis was also done on a subsample (n=228)., Results: Stunting was 21.2% and wasting was 10.7% respectively. Prevalence of anaemia was 59.1% and was mainly microcytic. Green and King's index showed 35.8% were iron deficient. Electrophoresis revealed 36 cases of Hb E haemoglobinopathy in the subsample., Conclusion: Anaemia is still a major nutrition problem in Myanmar. The reasons for this high prevalence should be explored and properly addressed. The study highlights the need for a comprehensive and large scale survey for the anaemia control programme in Myanmar.