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Background: Breastfeeding promotion is widely recognized as one of the most cost-effective investments in promoting optimal child health, growth, and development. Several studies have shown that breastfeeding education and counselling interventions have a significant impact on improving breastfeeding practices, including exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates. However, very few studies have evaluated the association between breastfeeding educations on infant breast milk intake. The objective of this study was to assess the contribution of behavior change communication provided by the Nutrition Enhancement Program (NEP) on infant breast milk intake and breastfeeding practices. Methods: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study in 12 Local Communities in rural Senegal of which 6 located in the NEP intervention area and the remaining, in the non-intervention area. Breast milk intake and EBF were measured using the deuterium dose-to-mother isotope dilution in 140 mother-infant pairs aged 4-5 months. The 24-hour recall questionnaire was also use to assess EBF. The nutritional status of mothers and infants were measured by anthropometry. Student's t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square test and McNemar test were used to compare means and percentages. A mixed model linear regression was performed to identify the associated factors of breast milk intake, measured by reference method. Results: Breast milk intake was significantly higher in infants from the NEP area (994.7 ±197.3 g/d), compared to those from the non-NEP area (913.6 ± 222.8) g/d), p=0.023. Consumption of water from sources other than breast milk was not different between the groups. EBF rate measured by DTM was 37.0% and 28.4% in the NEP area and the non-NEP area, respectively. There was no difference on exclusive breastfeeding rate between the two areas regardless of evaluation method. Stunting and wasting were associated with lower milk intake of 119.1 g/d and 199.6 g/d respectively. Conclusions: Breast milk intake of 4-5 months old infants is higher in the NEP area where breastfeeding education and counselling are provided to mothers compared to the non-NEP area. There was no influence of the intervention on EBF rates between the two areas. Lower breast milk consumption was associated with stunting and wasting.

ObjectiveOverweight and obesity constitute a new challenge in low-income and middle-countries. The obesity prevention programme, called ‘5-2-1-0’, promotes healthy eating habits, physical activity and limited screen time among young people.This study aimed to assess adherence to the ‘5-2-1-0’ recommendations and to study multiple risky behaviours among adolescents in nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsMeta-analyses with a random effect were used to calculate overall prevalence. Non-random patterns of the co-occurrence of the four risky behaviours were explored using observed/expected prevalence ratios. Data came from the Global School-based Health Survey and 18 314 adolescents were considered.ResultsAmong the participants, 12.7% (95% CI 7.5% to 19.0%) had overweight and 3.2% (95% CI 1.1% to 6.1%) had obesity. In almost all countries studied, girls were more affected by overweight and obesity than boys.While only 0.2% (95% CI 0.1% to 0.4%) of the adolescents fully complied with the recommendations, 4.8% (95% CI 3.1% to 6.9%), 28.4% (95% CI 22.4% to 34.8%), 43.8% (95% CI 41.9% to 45.8%) and 17.0% (95% CI 11.8% to 23.0%), respectively, combined 1, 2, 3 and 4 risky behaviours among the four ‘5-2-1-0’ criteria. The most observed combination was found for co-occurrence of three risky behaviours: insufficient fruit/vegetables consumption, physical activity and non-zero consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.ConclusionIn conclusion, the insufficient adherence to ‘5-2-1-0’ recommendations and the high prevalence of the co-occurrence of risky behaviours underscore the need to strengthen health interventions and programmes to prevent obesity among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.

Over the last 2 decades, many African countries have undergone dietary and nutrition transitions fueled by globalization, rapid urbanization, and development. These changes have altered African food environments and, subsequently, dietary behaviors, including food acquisition and consumption. Dietary patterns associated with the nutrition transition have contributed to Africa's complex burden of malnutrition - obesity and other diet-related noncommunicable diseases (DR-NCDs) - along with persistent food insecurity and undernutrition. Available evidence links unhealthy or obesogenic food environments (including those that market and offer energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages) with suboptimal diets and associated adverse health outcomes. Elsewhere, governments have responded with policies to improve food environments. However, in Africa, the necessary research and policy action have received insufficient attention. Contextual evidence to motivate, enable, and create supportive food environments in Africa for better population health is urgently needed. In November 2020, the Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention Project (MEALS4NCDs) convened the first Africa Food Environment Research Network Meeting (FERN2020). This 3-d virtual meeting brought researchers from around the world to deliberate on future directions and research priorities related to improving food environments and nutrition across the African continent. The stakeholders shared experiences, best practices, challenges, and opportunities for improving the healthfulness of food environments and related policies in low- and middle-income countries. In this article, we summarize the proceedings and research priorities identified in the meeting to advance the food environment research agenda in Africa, and thus contribute to the promotion of healthier food environments to prevent DR-NCDs, and other forms of malnutrition.

Objective:To evaluate the extent of implementation of public policies aimed at creating healthy eating environments in Senegal compared to international best practice and identity priority actions to address the double burden of malnutrition.Design:The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) was used by a local expert panel to assess the level of implementation of forty-three good practice policy and infrastructure support indicators against international best practices using a Likert scale and identify priority actions to address the double burden of malnutrition in Senegal.Setting:Senegal, West Africa.Participants:A national group of independent experts from academia, civil society, non-governmental organisations and United Nations bodies (n =15) and a group of government experts from various ministries (n =16) participated in the study.Results:Implementation of most indicators aimed at creating healthy eating environments were rated as ‘low’ compared to best practice (31 on 43, or 72 %). The Gwet AC2 inter-rater reliability was good at 0·75 (95 % CI 0·70, 0·80). In a prioritisation workshop, experts identified forty-five actions, prioritising ten as relatively most feasible and important and relatively most effective to reduce the double burden of malnutrition in Senegal (e.g. develop and implement regional school menus based on local products (expand to fourteen regions) and measure the extent of the promotion of unhealthy foods to children).Conclusions:Significant efforts remain to be made by Senegal to improve food environments. This project allowed to establish an agenda of priority actions for the government to transform food environments in Senegal to tackle the double burden of malnutrition.

Aims: To evaluate the agronomic and nutritional performances of three varieties of sweet potato (Kandee, Caromex and Gandiol1) cultivated for the first time in the agro-ecological zone of the groundnut basin in Senegal. Study Design: The experiment was arranged in Randomized Completely Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted during two growing seasons from April to August 2017 and from October 2018 to February 2019 in Sagna village (Kaffrine, Senegal). Methodology: The planting of the cuttings was done with a density of 0.3 x 1 m or 3333.3 cuttings ha-1. Drip irrigation was used and mineral fertilization with 15-15-15 was applied. In each elementary plot, 5 plants were checked monthly for growth and phytosanitary monitoring. The harvest took place at 145 days after planting. The yields and agro-morphological characteristics of the roots were determined as well as their nutritional value and the incidence of bio-aggressor attacks. Results: The success percentage of cuttings was 90.1, 90.5 and 88% for Kandee, Caromex and Gandiol1, respectively. The length development of sweet potato stems was variable between the 3 varieties. The Gandiol1 variety with stems longer than 1.6 m was very spread out contrary to Caromex whose average stem length did not exceed 0.5 m. The marketable tuber yields obtained were comparable between the varieties and were 21.5, 22.5 and 13.4 t ha-1 respectively for Kandee, Caromex and Gandiol1. The morphology of the tubers was different in shape (diameter and length) but also in flesh color. Kandee had orange flesh, rich in carotenoids (101.1 mg/kg; P

Fractional iron absorption (FAFe) from ferrous fumarate (FeFum) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) in adults is generally comparable. While FeFum is commonly used to fortify infant foods, FAFe from FeFum in young children and infants may be decreased compared with FeSO4 and this effect has not been assessed in inhibitory vs noninhibitory meals. Previous studies also reported FAFe to be strongly correlated in mother–child pairs. Our objective was to measure FAFe from fortified bread labeled with 58FeSO4 and 57FeFum in mother–child pairs with and without a commonly consumed herbal tea of Combretum micranthum (Tisane Kinkeliba, TK). Senegalese mother–child pairs (n = 17) were randomly assigned to receive, in a 2 × 2 factorial design, fortified bread with 58FeSO4 or 57FeFum consumed with TK or water. FAFe was assessed by measuring erythrocyte incorporation of stable iron-isotopes 14 days after administration. In children, relative bioavailability (RBV) from FeFum was 51 and 64% compared with FeSO4 when served with TK or water (both, P

Agroforestry systems are progressively integrated by small farmer holder to mitigate agricultural production charge and contribute to sustainable agriculture by restoring and maintaining sandy soil fertility. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to test the nodulation level of introduced Gliricidia sepium tree with foreign rhizobial reference strains TAL1769 and TAL1770 against native rhizobial community using PCR/RFLP techniques. Restriction patterns of the two inoculated reference strains obtained for 16S – 23S rDNA - IGS were different to those of indigenous rhizobia detected in all remained nodules collected from root plants regarding the restriction enzymes HaeIII and MspI. Nodule occupancy rates of the reference strains and native rhizobial strains of profile F ranged from 18.36 to 22.45 and were higher compared to others rhizobial strains detected in gliricidia rhizosphere. Therefore, regarding its high competitiveness level, the native rhizobial strain may be considered as a good candidate to inoculate the introduced legume tree gliricidia.

This cross‐sectional study was conducted to determine the association between selected characteristics and body composition of mothers and children in early life. This study included 213 mother–child pairs 6 to 8 months involving in the cohort study of the Research and Development Project conducted in Kaffrine district. The main outcomes were fat‐free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF), measured using deuterium dilution method and anthropometry. Independent variables were sociodemographic, dietary diversity and health characteristics. Descriptive, correlation, bivariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted. According to body mass index (BMI), 23% of mothers were underweight, 12% were overweight/obese and 11% had excess BF. Four per cent of children were below −2 weight‐for‐length z‐score (WLZ), 10% were below −2 length‐for‐age z‐score (LAZ) and 40% had excess BF. Maternal FFM was positively correlated with child FFM (r = 0.25, P = 0.002). Similarly, mothers' BMI, FFM and BF were significantly and positively correlated with children's LAZ. Stepwise regression showed an increased association between minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and WLZ score, FFM and BF of children. Among mothers, being employee and doing reproductive health care were determinants of higher BMI, FFM and BF. This study found a strong association between maternal and child body composition in early life. Adequate diet is the main determinant of children nutritional status. Among the mothers, having a job and doing primary health care seem to be beneficial for the nutritional status. Improvement of women's empowerment, quality of health care and dietary diversity could have a positive impact on maternal and child nutrition.

Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) in 6-59-month-old children is recommended but its sustainability is currently questioned. In Senegal, available data suggest that VAS should be maintained, but geographic and age-related specificities need to be addressed to better implement and target VAS programming. The objective of this comparative cross-sectional study, conducted in urban settings of Dakar, was to compare the vitamin A liver stores (VALS) assessed using the modified-relative dose response (MRDR) test between supplemented and non-supplemented 9–23 month-old children and to study their relationship with VAS. The supplemented group (n = 119) received VAS (either 100 000 UI or 200 000 UI) 2 to 6 months before evaluation while the non-supplemented group (n = 110) had not received VAS during the past 6 months. In addition to MRDR, serum retinol concentrations (SR), and biomarkers of subclinical inflammation were measured. Children’s health-related data and feeding patterns were collected. Mean MRDR values (VAS: 0.030 ± 0.017, non-VAS: 0.028 ± 0.016, P = 0.389) and inflammation-adjusted SR (VAS: 1.34 ± 0.37, non-VAS: 1.3 ± 0.35, P = 0.515) of children were adequate. Low prevalence of VALS (VAS: 5.2%, non-VAS: 5.4%) and inflammation-adjusted VAD (VAS: 2.6%, non-VAS: 0.9%) were detected despite high presence of infections and inflammation. Children were mostly still being breastfed (VAS: 85.7%, non-VAS: 77.3%) and complementary feeding indicators were similar in both groups. Only breastfeeding was associated with VALS and was found to reduce by 76% at least, the odds of VAD (adjusted OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07–0.8, P = 0.020). Based on MRDR values, VAS was not related to improved VALS and SR as well as VAD reduction among these children with adequate VALS. Reinforcing breastfeeding advocacy and morbidity prevention/control are essential in this setting. Scaling-back VAS in this subpopulation should be examined regarding the risk of hypervitaminosis A after an evaluation of dietary vitamin A intake sufficiency and a more quantitative assessment of VALS.

This study evaluated the sensory properties and consumer acceptance of boiled, fried, and mashed orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), by rural lactating women (n=80) and their children

To compare the World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index (BMI)-for-age definition of obesity against measured body fatness in African children.In a prospective multicentre study over 2013 to 2017, we recruited 1516 participants aged 8 to 11 years old from urban areas of eight countries (Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, Tunisia and United Republic of Tanzania). We measured height and weight and calculated BMI-for-age using WHO standards. We measured body fatness using the deuterium dilution method and defined excessive body fat percentage as 25% in boys and 30% in girls. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of BMI z-score +2.00 standard deviations (SD) and used receiver operating characteristic analysis and the Youden index to determine the optimal BMI z-score cut-off for classifying excessive fatness.The prevalence of excessive fatness was over three times higher than BMI-for-age-defined obesity: 29.1% (95% CI: 26.8 to 31.4; 441 children) versus 8.8% (95% CI: 7.5 to 10.4; 134 children). The sensitivity of BMI z-score +2.00 SD was low (29.7%, 95% CI: 25.5 to 34.2) and specificity was high (99.7%, 95% CI: 99.2 to 99.9). The receiver operating characteristic analysis found that a BMI z-score +0.58 SD would optimize sensitivity, and at this cut-off the area under the curve was 0.86, sensitivity 71.9% (95% CI: 67.4 to 76.0) and specificity 91.1% (95% CI: 89.2 to 92.7).While BMI remains a practical tool for obesity surveillance, it underestimates excessive fatness and this should be considered when planning future African responses to the childhood obesity pandemic.Comparer la définition de l'obésité de l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé basée sur l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) selon l'âge à la masse grasse mesurée chez les enfants africains.Dans le cadre d'une étude prospective multicentrique menée entre 2013 et 2017, nous avons recruté 1516 participants âgés de 8 à 11 ans dans des zones urbaines situées dans huit pays (Ghana, Kenya, Maroc, Maurice, Namibie, République-Unie de Tanzanie, Sénégal et Tunisie). Nous avons mesuré leur taille et leur poids et calculé leur IMC par rapport à leur âge en utilisant les normes de l'OMS. Nous avons mesuré la masse grasse à l'aide de la méthode de dilution du deutérium, et défini le taux de masse grasse excessive comme étant 25% pour les garçons et 30% pour les filles. Nous avons calculé la sensibilité et la spécificité du Z-score de l'IMC+2,00 écarts types (ET) et utilisé une analyse de la fonction d'efficacité du récepteur et l’indice de Youden afin de déterminer la valeur limite optimale du Z-score de l'IMC pour classifier la masse grasse excessive.La prévalence de la masse grasse excessive était plus de trois fois supérieure à la prévalence de l'obésité définie en fonction de l'IMC selon l'âge: 29,1% (IC à 95%: 26,8-31,4; 441 enfants) contre 8,8% (IC à 95%: 7,5-10,4; 134 enfants). La sensibilité du Z-score de l'IMC +2,00 ET était faible (29,7%, IC à 95%: 25,5-34,2), tandis que la spécificité était élevée (99,7%, IC à 95%: 99,2-99,9). L'analyse de la fonction d'efficacité du récepteur a révélé qu'un Z-score de l'IMC de +0,58 ED optimiserait la sensibilité, et qu'à cette valeur limite, l'aire sous la courbe était de 0,86, la sensibilité de 71,9% (IC à 95%: 67,4-76,0) et la spécificité de 91,1% (IC à 95%: 89,2-92,7).Si l'IMC reste est un outil pratique pour surveiller l'obésité, il sous-évalue la masse grasse excessive. Cela doit être pris en compte lors de la planification des futures mesures africaines de lutte contre la pandémie d'obésité chez l'enfant.Comparar la definición de obesidad por edad del índice de masa corporal (IMC) de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) con la grasa corporal medida en niños africanos.En un estudio prospectivo multicéntrico realizado entre 2013 y 2017, se reclutaron 1516 participantes de edades comprendidas entre los 8 y los 11 años de zonas urbanas de ocho países (Ghana, Kenya, Marruecos, Mauricio, Namibia, República Unida de Tanzania, Senegal y Túnez). Se midieron la altura y el peso y calculamos el IMC por edad utilizando los estándares de la OMS. Se midió la grasa corporal mediante el método de dilución de deuterio y se definió el porcentaje de grasa corporal excesiva como25 % en los niños y30 % en las niñas. Se calculó la sensibilidad y especificidad del IMC con desviaciones estándar (DE) de los valores Z de+2,00 y se utilizó el análisis de las características operativas del receptor y el índice Youden para determinar el límite óptimo del IMC z-score para clasificar el exceso de grasa.La prevalencia de la obesidad excesiva fue más de tres veces superior a la obesidad definida por el IMC por edad: 29,1 % (IC del 95 %: 26,8 a 31,4; 441 niños) en comparación con un 8,8 % (IC del 95 %: 7,5 a 10,4; 134 niños). La sensibilidad del IMC con DE de los valores Z+2,00 fue baja (29,7 %, IC del 95 %: 25,5 a 34,2) y la especificidad fue alta (99,7 %, IC del 95 %: 99,2 a 99,9). El análisis de las características operativas del receptor encontró que un IMC z-score +0,58 DE optimizaría la sensibilidad, y en este corte el área bajo la curva era de 0,86, con una sensibilidad del 71,9 % (IC del 95 %: 67,4 a 76,0) y una especificidad del 91,1 % (IC del 95 %: 89,2 a 92,7).Aunque el IMC sigue siendo una herramienta práctica para la monitorización de la obesidad, subestima el exceso de grasa y esto debería tenerse en cuenta a la hora de planificar las futuras respuestas africanas a la pandemia de obesidad infantil.مقارنة بين السمنة المقيسة في الأطفال الأفارقة، وتعريف البدانة القائم على مؤشر كتلة الجسم (BMI) بالنسبة للسن، والتابع لمنظمة الصحة العالمية.في دراسة استباقية متعددة المراكز خلال الفترة من 2013 إلى 2017، قمنا بتسجيل 1516 مشاركًا تتراوح أعمارهم بين 8 إلى 11 عامًا من المناطق الحضرية في ثماني بلدان (السنغال، والمغرب، وتونس، وجمهورية تنزانيا المتحدة، وغانا، وكينيا، وموريشيوس، وناميبيا).قمنا بقياس الطول والوزن وحساب مؤشر كتلة الجسم (BMI) بالنسبة للسن، باستخدام معايير منظمة الصحة العالمية.قمنا بقياس سمنة الجسم باستخدام طريقة تخفيف الديوتيريوم، وحددنا النسبة المئوية للدهون الزائدة في الجسم لتكون أكثر من 25٪ في الأولاد، وأكثر من 30٪ في البنات.قمنا بحساب حساسية وخصوصية المحصلة المعيارية لمؤشر كتلة الجسم لتكن أكبر من +2.00 بالنسبة للانحرافات المعيارية (SD)، واستعنا بتحليل خصائص التشغيل للمستقبٍل ومؤشر يودنلتحديد الحد الأمثل للمحصلة المعيارية لمؤشر كتلة الجسم، بهدف تصنيف السمنة المفرطة.كان انتشار السمنة المفرطة أعلى أكثر من ثلاث مرات من السمنة التي يحددها مؤشر كتلة الجسم بالنسبة للسن: 29.1٪ (فاصل الثقة 95٪: 26.8 إلى 31.4؛ 441 طفلاً) مقابل 8.8٪ (فاصل الثقة 95٪: 7.5 إلى 10.4، 134 طفلاً).كانت حساسية الانحراف المعياري (SD) - الأكبر من +2.00 بالنسبة للمحصلة المعيارية لمؤشر كتلة الجسم- منخفضة، (29.7٪، بفاصل ثقة 95٪: 25.5 إلى 34.2) وكانت الخصوصية عالية (99.7٪، بفاصل ثقة 95٪: 99.2 إلى 99.9).اكتشف تحليل خصائص التشغيل للمستقبٍل أن الانحراف المعياري بنسبة +0.58 - للمحصلة المعيارية لمؤشر كتلة الجسم- سوف يُحسن من الحساسية، وأنه عند هذا الحد كانت المساحة تحت المنحنى 0.86، وكانت الحساسية 71.9٪ (فاصل ثقة 95٪: 67.4 إلى 76.0)، وخصوصية 91.1٪ (فاصل ثقة 95٪: 89.2 إلى 92.7).بينما يظل مؤشر كتلة الجسم أداة عملية لمراقبة السمنة، إلا أنه يقلل من السمنة المفرطة، ويجب وضع ذلك في الاعتبار عند التخطيط لاستجابات أفريقية مستقبلية لوباء البدانة في مرحلة الطفولة.将世卫组织 (WHO) 年龄别身体质量指数 (BMI-for-age) 对肥胖的定义与所测量的非洲儿童体脂率进行对比。.在 2013 年至 2017 年的一项前瞻性、多中心的研究中，我们从 8 个国家的城市地区（加纳，肯尼亚，摩洛哥，毛里求斯，纳米比亚，塞内加尔，突尼斯和坦桑尼亚联合共和国）招募了 1516 名 8 至 11 岁的参与者。我们使用 WHO 标准测量了参与者的身高和体重，并计算了年龄别身体质量指数。我们使用重水同位素法测量了参与者的体脂，并定义过度肥胖百分位数为男孩 25％，女孩 30％。我们计算了 BMI z 评分 +2.00 标准差 (SD) 的敏感性和特异性，并使用受试者工作特征分析和约登指数来确定过度肥胖分类的最佳 BMI z 评分的界限值。.过度肥胖的患病率比年龄别身体质量指数所定义的肥胖高出三倍以上：29.1％（95％ 置信区间，CI：26.8 至 31.4；441 名儿童）与 8.8％（95％ 置信区间，CI：7.5 至 10.4；134 名儿童）。BMI z 评分 +2.00 标准差 (SD) 的敏感性低（29.7％，95％ 置信区间，CI：25.5 至 34.2），特异性高（99.7％，95％ 置信区间，CI：99.2 至 99.9）。受试者工作特征分析发现 BMI z 评分 +0.58 标准差 (SD) 将优化敏感性，并在此界限值时，曲线下区域为 0.86，敏感性为 71.9％（95％ 置信区间，CI：67.4 至 76.0），特异性为 91.1％（95％ 置信区间，CI：89.2 至 92.7）。.虽然身体质量指数 (BMI) 仍然是肥胖监测的实用工具，但它低估了过度肥胖的患病率，因此，在规划未来非洲应对儿童肥胖率快速上升的情况时应慎重考虑。.Сравнение определения ожирения, принятого Всемирной организацией здравоохранения (ВОЗ) на основании значения «индекс массы тела (ИМТ)-возраст», с измеренными величинами упитанности африканских детей.В перспективном многоцентровом исследовании в период с 2013 по 2017 год приняли участие 1516 участников в возрасте от 8 до 11 лет из городских районов восьми стран (Гана, Кения, Маврикий, Марокко, Намибия, Объединенная Республика Танзания, Сенегал и Тунис). Детей взвешивали и измеряли их рост, после чего вычисляли показатель «ИМТ-возраст» согласно стандартам ВОЗ. Также измерялось содержание жировой ткани в организме методом дейтериевого разбавления; содержание жировой ткани считалось избыточным, если оно превышало 25% у мальчиков и 30% у девочек. Авторы вычислили чувствительность и специфичность z-оценки ИМТ + 2,00 стандартного отклонения (СО) и воспользовались методом анализа характеристических показателей правильности обнаружения сигналов индексом Юдена для определения оптимального порога z-оценки по ИМТ в вопросе классификации наличия избытка жировой ткани.Распространенность избытка жировой ткани более чем в три раза превышала частоту ожирения, определяемую показателем «ИМТ-возраст»: 29,1% (95%-й ДИ: 26,8–31,4; 441 ребенок) в сравнении с 8,8% (95%-й ДИ: 7,5–10,4; 134 ребенка). Чувствительность z-оценки ИМТ + 2,00 СО была низкой (29,7%, 95%-й ДИ: 25,5–34,2), а специфичность — высокой (99,7%, 95%-й ДИ: 99,2–99,9). Анализ характеристических особенностей правильности обнаружения сигналов позволил обнаружить, что оптимизация чувствительности возможна при использовании z-оценки ИМТ + 0,58 СО и что при этом пороговом значении площадь под кривой составляла 0,86, чувствительность — 71,9% (95%-й ДИ: 67,4–76,0), а специфичность — 91,1% (95%-й ДИ: 89,2–92,7).Несмотря на то что измерение ИМТ остается практическим средством выявления ожирения, оно недооценивает содержание избыточной жировой ткани в организме, и это следует учитывать при планировании мероприятий по борьбе с пандемией детского ожирения в Африке.

Objective Assortative mating for adiposity increases the genetic burden on offspring, but its causes remain unclear. One hypothesis is that people who have high adiposity find other people with obesity more physically attractive than lean people. Methods The attractiveness of sets of images of males and females who varied in adiposity were rated by opposite sex subjects (559 males and 340 females) across 12 countries. Results There was tremendous individual variability in attractiveness ratings. For female attractiveness, most males favored the leanest subjects, but others favored intermediate fatness, some were indifferent to body composition, and others rated the subjects with obesity as most attractive. For male images rated by females, the patterns were more complex. Most females favored subjects with low levels of adiposity (but not the lowest level), whereas others were indifferent to body fatness or rated the images depicting individuals with obesity as the most attractive. These patterns were unrelated to rater BMI. Among Caucasian males who rated the images of the thinnest females as being more attractive, the magnitude of the effect depended on rater BMI, indicating limited "mutual attraction." Conclusions Individual variations in ratings of physical attractiveness were broadly unrelated to rater BMI and suggest that mutual attraction is an unlikely explanation for assortative mating for obesity.

Background:Widely spread throughout the world, folate and iron deficiencies are risk factors for many diseases. However, contrary to iron deficiency and anemia, which have been documented in depth, the prevalence of folate deficiency among women has not been well-studied.Objective:The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of folate deficiency and anemia and their association among Senegalese women of reproductive age.Methods:A national cross-sectional survey using a stratified 2-stage cluster sampling was conducted. Data were collected from 1012 women (aged 15-49 years). Plasma folate and hemoglobin (Hb), as well as protein markers of subclinical infections, were equally measured.Results:The mean folate concentration was 8.50 nmol/L (8.16-8.85 nmol/L), and 54.8% of the women were folate deficient (Conclusions:This study showed a high prevalence of folate deficiency and anemia among Senegalese women (15-49 years), particularly those living in rural settings and breastfeeding women.

The effect of green manure of gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp) leguminous plants applied for cereal maize cultivation and N uptake by cereal were investigated and analyzed in relation to influence of dual inoculation of gliricidia with microbial symbionts. Two pot experiments were conducted in greenhouse. The first trial was set up to enhance growth of gliricidia with exotic and indigenous rhizobial strains and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and the second to determine the effect of gliricidia organic material on maize growth. Direct 15N-labelling techniques were used to estimate N-fixed by gliricidia plant and N uptake of maize cereal crop from green manuring was calculated. Growth of gliricidia trees estimated by aboveground biomass production and N fixed were positively affected by dual inoculations. This study showed that shoot dry weight and N accumulation of maize cultivated under gliricidia green manure were influenced by its application and indirectly by microbial treatments. The N recovery by the maize accounted 17.32% to 26.52% of N applied as gliricidia organic material. Gliricidia green manure N accumulation and release, and afterward microbial inoculations were substantially determining on maize crop N uptake and growth in sandy soil of Sub-Saharian Africa.

Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was domesticated in South America. The value of the crop was quickly perceived and it has been successfully adapted to many other tropical and subtropical zones worldwide (Hammons, 1994). Today peanut is cultivated on approximately 25 million hectares from which 45 million tons are harvested annually (FAOSTAT, 2014) making peanut one of the most cultivated grain legumes and a crucial source of protein, oil and revenue. In Senegal peanut cultivation started in the 1850s. Since the 1960s, peanut is cultivated as an industrial export-oriented crop, representing up to 80% of Senegalese exports and providing the majority of cash income for rural populations (Sene et al., 2010; Noba et al., 2014). Like many other legumes, A. hypogaea is able to establish a mutualistic symbiotic association with soil bacteria collectively known as rhizobia. Rhizobia form symbioses with legumes and fix atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form that can be assimilated by plants (Mylona et al., 1995). Grain legumes generally assimilate around 80% of their nitrogen from the air, but peanut only acquires by this way about 55% of its total nitrogen requirement (Hardarson, 1993). In addition, fixation efficiency is highly variable between peanut genotypes, rhizobia strains, and environmental conditions (Hardy et al., 1968; Stalker, 1991; Stalker et al., 1994; Mokgehle et al., 2014). This variability is certainly linked to the intrinsic characteristics of each partner and to the capacity of host plants to recognize and retain the best (Frederickson, 2013; Ibáñez et al., 2016, 2015), but could also reflect a complex evolutionary history of hosts and symbionts including horizontal transfer of symbiotic genes that created genotypes adapted to particular geographic zones or hosts (Laguerre et al., 2001; Muñoz et al., 2011). Although peanut has long been adapted to the Senegalese agro-systems, little is known about the native symbiotic components that allow for biological nitrogen fixation (Sene et al., 2010). A. hypogaea forms effective nodules with Bradyrhizobium sp. (Urtz and Elkan, 1996; El-Akhal et al., 2008; Ngo Nkot et al., 2008; Chen et al., 2014), but data on nitrogen fixation efficiency and taxonomic diversity of rhizobial strains in peanut fields in Senegal are scarce (Sene et al., 2010). Thus, understanding the process that favoured peanut adaptation in Senegal by mining the extent of the diversity of the native strains found in peanut nodules and their efficiency in fixing atmospheric nitrogen is an important step to identify elite strains that can be used as potential inoculants to improve peanut productivity in Senegal through BNF. In this work, we studied the phenotypic and genetic diversity of rhizobia isolated from A. hypogaea grown in different agroecological zones in Senegal and compared these strains with efficient strains from Argentina and Zimbabwe. Fil: Zaiya Zazou, Arlette. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal. Institute of Agricultural Research for Development; Camerún. Centre d’Etudes Régional pour l’Amélioration de l’Adaptation à la Sécheresse; Senegal Fil: Fonceka, Daniel. Centre d’Etudes Régional pour l’Amélioration de l’Adaptation à la Sécheresse; Senegal. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia Fil: Fall, Saliou. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal Fil: Fabra, Adriana Isidora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; Argentina Fil: Ibañez, Fernando Julio. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina Fil: Pignoly, Sarah. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia Fil: Diouf, Adama. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal Fil: Touré, Oumar. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal Fil: Faye, Mathieu Ndigue. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia Fil: Hocher, Valérie. Université Montpellier; Francia. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia Fil: Diouf, Diégane. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal Fil: Svistoonoff, Sergio. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia. Université Cheikh Anta Diop; Senegal. Université Montpellier; Francia

Introduction Childhood obesity is currently a serious public health challenge in developing countries. Therefore, an accurate assessment of adiposity is required. The objective of this study was to validate BIA prediction equations for the assessment of total body water and adiposity or percentage of body fat for the first time in Senegalese school-aged children. Methods One-hundred-fifty-one (151) pupils who were 8–11 years old were randomly selected from four public schools in Dakar. The body composition measured by deuterium dilution method (DDM) was used as the reference method and compared to that predicted by BIA using a multi-frequency analyser. Stepwise backward multiple linear regression was performed to calculate TBW and %BF in a subsample, which were then validated in the rest of the sample. The Bland and Altman approach was used to assess the agreement between the two methods (bias and limits of agreement). Results FFM was higher in boys (24.6±6.9 kg) compared to girls (21.2±3.3 kg; P25% in boys, and >30% in girls) and 2.0% were obese according to WHO cut points for obesity (BMI z-score >+2.0). The equations developed were as follows: TBW = 0.376(Height2/Z50)-0.470 (sex) +0.076(weight) +0.065(height)-2.28. %BF = -1.10(height2/Z50) +3.14(sex)+1.57(weight)-4.347. These specific equations showed good precision and a low and non-significant mean bias (0.11 kg, P = 0.279; and 0.19 kg, P = 0.764) for TBW and %BF, respectively. Conclusion The newly developed equations can be used as an accurate and alternative screening tool for the assessment of obesity among children in various settings.

Assortative mating for adiposity increases the genetic burden on offspring, but its causes remain unclear. One hypothesis is that people who have high adiposity find other people with obesity more physically attractive than lean people.The attractiveness of sets of images of males and females who varied in adiposity were rated by opposite sex subjects (559 males and 340 females) across 12 countries.There was tremendous individual variability in attractiveness ratings. For female attractiveness, most males favored the leanest subjects, but others favored intermediate fatness, some were indifferent to body composition, and others rated the subjects with obesity as most attractive. For male images rated by females, the patterns were more complex. Most females favored subjects with low levels of adiposity (but not the lowest level), whereas others were indifferent to body fatness or rated the images depicting individuals with obesity as the most attractive. These patterns were unrelated to rater BMI. Among Caucasian males who rated the images of the thinnest females as being more attractive, the magnitude of the effect depended on rater BMI, indicating limited "mutual attraction."Individual variations in ratings of physical attractiveness were broadly unrelated to rater BMI and suggest that mutual attraction is an unlikely explanation for assortative mating for obesity.

Within decade years, the deuterium dilution techniques are largely used in developing countries for breast milk output and body composition which are the important indicators of public health nutrition interventions. But the implementation of these techniques needs a familiarity with standard operating procedures. This paper presented the challenge met while using these stable isotope methods among Beninese children. The checking data and estimate of deuterium equilibration period were tested on 15 children aged 6-22 months for the body composition (BC) and 08 mother-child pairs having 5.5 months children aged for assessing breast milk intake (BMI). We have found that collecting saliva from 6 months children was very demanding. Children above 6 months aged chewed up the dentals swabs or cotton wool. Instead of cotton stalk, mother’s index finger has been used to overcome saliva collection challenge. For BC measurement, some mothers got angry and left before the third saliva collection. Seven children have rejected the dose or vomited immediately after the dose administration. The plateau equilibration was between 2 and 3 hours. Concerning data quality, the Total Body Water percentage at 2, 2.5 and 3 hours were between 40-75% for 7 children. Only one over 8 children was less than 60mg/kg of total error for BMI output. These results are crucial to conduct the large study. It showed precautions that might be taken into account in order assure high quality data about BMI output and children BC and therefore to improve the quality of the assessment public health actions.

Exclusive breast-feeding until 6 months is advised by the WHO as the best practice to feed infants. Yet, some studies have suggested a gap between energy requirements and the energy provided by human milk for many infants at 6 months. In order to assess the adequacy of WHO recommendations in 6-month-old Senegalese lactating infants, a comprehensive study was designed to measure human milk intake by the dose-to-the mother2H2O turnover method. Infants' energy intakes were calculated using daily breast milk intake and the energy content of milk was estimated on the basis of creamatocrit. Of the fifty-nine mother–infant pairs enrolled, fifteen infants were exclusively breast-fed (Ex) while forty-four were partially breast-fed (Part). Infants' breast milk intake was significantly higher in the Ex group (993 (sd135) g/d,n15) compared with the Part group (828 (sd222) g/d,n44,P= 0·009). Breast milk energy content as well as infants' growth was comparable in both groups. However, infants' energy intake from human milk was significantly higher (364 (sd50) kJ/kg per d (2586 (sd448) kJ/d)) in the Ex group than in the Part group (289 (sd66) kJ/kg per d (2150 (sd552) kJ/d),P

Background: Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles are major risk factors of childhood obesity. This study aimed to measure physical activity (PA) levels by accelerometer and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) among Senegalese school children and the relation with Body Mass Index (BMI) and body composition. Methodology: 156 pupils 8–11 years old were randomly selected in four elementary public schools of Dakar. BMI z-score was used to categorize children according to their weight status. PA was measured by PAQ-C in the 156 pupils and by accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, Pensacola, FL, USA) in a subsample of 42 children. Body composition was determined by deuterium dilution method. Results: PAQ-C results were comparable in the 156 and 42 pupils. The 42 pupils presented a light activity measured by accelerometer, while PAQ-C classified the majority of them (57%; n = 24) in the moderate PA level. Children spent most of their time (min/day) in sedentary activities and light activities than in moderate and intense activity levels. Accumulation of 60 min/day Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) was achieved by 54.8% (n = 23) of the pupils. MVPA decreased in girls in relation to their body fatness. There was a significant difference in MVPA between boys and girls. Similarly, overweight/obese (45 ± 16 min/day) children had lower MVPA than their normal and underweight peers (88 ± 34 and 74 ± 36 min/day, respectively; p = 0.004). Conclusions: The two methods are inconsistent for measuring light and moderate PA levels. Although PAQ-C is an uncomplicated routine method, various activities were not adapted for genuine activities in Senegalese children and therefore needs to be validated in African children.

Aspects of the female body may be attractive because they signal evolutionary fitness. Greater body fatness might reflect greater potential to survive famines, but individuals carrying larger fat stores may have poor health and lower fertility in non-famine conditions. A mathematical statistical model using epidemiological data linking fatness to fitness traits, predicted a peaked relationship between fatness and attractiveness (maximum at body mass index (BMI) = 22.8 to 24.8 depending on ethnicity and assumptions). Participants from three Caucasian populations (Austria, Lithuania and the UK), three Asian populations (China, Iran and Mauritius) and four African populations (Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal) rated attractiveness of a series of female images varying in fatness (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR). There was an inverse linear relationship between physical attractiveness and body fatness or BMI in all populations. Lower body fat was more attractive, down to at least BMI = 19. There was no peak in the relationship over the range we studied in any population. WHR was a significant independent but less important factor, which was more important (greater r (2)) in African populations. Predictions based on the fitness model were not supported. Raters appeared to use body fat percentage (BF%) and BMI as markers of age. The covariance of BF% and BMI with age indicates that the role of body fatness alone, as a marker of attractiveness, has been overestimated.

A field experiment was conducted at Bel Air station, in Dakar using 15N isotope dilution technique and the non nodulating soybean (Glycine max) variety m129 as reference plant to test the compatibility of Dichlorofenthion-thiram (DCT) fungicide to the inoculation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Paulista variety with both Rhizobium etli ISRA 353 and R. tropici strain ISRA 554. Nodulation was not induced with R. etli ISRA 353 and nitrogen fixation did not occur. With R. tropici ISRA 554, a decrease in nodulation was observed, but nitrogen fixation was not significantly different compared to that of the non DCT-treated common bean. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(7): 198-201)

A randomized study was conducted to test the efficacy of Moringa powder on iron status and weight gain in women. In an open-labelled randomized trial, 82 moderately anaemic, lactating women, aged 26.7� 6.5 years, received a weekly dose of either 100g of Moringa powder(Moringa group) or 120 mg iron sulphate with 0.5 mg folic acid (Control group). Data from 64 women (33 from Moringa group and 31 from Control group) were analyzed. Baseline parameters, socio-economic, anthropometry, haematology, plasma ferritin, and acute phase proteins were comparable in both groups. Low plasma ferritin (< 12 �g/l) indicating iron deficiency was found in 13 and 14 women from the Moringa and Control groups, respectively. After 3 months of treatment, mean haemoglobin concentrations significantly increased in both groups (p

Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and malnutrition constitute the main obstacles for successful treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of consuming daily 100 g RUTF (ready-to-use therapeutic food) as supplement, on body composition, anemia and zinc status of hospitalized PLWH in Senegal. A Controlled clinical trial was conducted in 65 PLWH randomly allocated to receive either standard hospital diet alone (Control group: n = 33), or the standard diet supplemented with 100 g RUTF/day (RUTF group: n = 32). Supplementation was continued at home during 9 weeks. Individual dietary intakes were measured and compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Body composition was determined using Bio-Impedance Analysis. Hemoglobin was measured by HemoCue and plasma zinc (PZ) concentration by atomic absorption spectrometry. PZ was adjusted to infection (CRP and α1-AGP). All measures were conducted on admission, discharge and after 9 weeks home-based follow up. 34 and 24 % of the patients in RUTF and Control groups were suffering from severe malnutrition (BMI