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Abstract The effect of iron fortification is generally assumed to be less than iron supplementation; however, the magnitude of difference in effects is not known. The present study aims to compare the efficacy of these two strategies on anaemia and iron status. After screening on low Hb, 425 anaemic children in six primary schools in Tam Nong district of Phu Tho province were included in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial comparing two groups receiving iron fortified instant noodles or iron supplementation for 6 months and a control group, with children in all groups having been dewormed. Blood samples were collected before and after intervention for haemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), serum transferrin receptor (TfR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and haemoglobinopathies analysis. Regression analysis was used to assess the effect of iron fortification and iron supplementation on haemoglobin concentration, SF, TfR, body iron, and anaemic status as outcome variables. The improvement of haemoglobin, SF, and body iron level in the group receiving iron fortification was 42% (2.6 g/L versus 6.2 g/L), 20% (23.5 μg/L versus 117.3 μg/L), and 31.3% (1.4 mg/kg versus 4.4 mg/kg) of that in the iron supplementation group. The prevalence of anaemia dropped to 15.1% in the control group, with an additional reduction of anaemia of 8.5% in the iron supplementation group. The additional reduction due to iron fortification was 5.4%, which amounts to well over 50% of the impact of supplementation. In conclusion, the efficacy of iron fortification based on reduction of prevalence of anaemia, and on the change in haemoglobin level, is about half of the maximum impact of supplementation in case of optimal compliance. Thus, in a population of anaemic children with mild iron deficiency, iron fortification should be the preferred strategy to combat anaemia.

Adherence to a mediterranean diet as practiced in Greece may increase longevity in advanced age. This diet rests on eight principles, such as low alcohol, meat, and diary consumption and an emphasis on legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Survival over 70 years increased in those elderly people who ate accordingly. After adjusting for sex, age, and smoking, overall mortality fell in direct correlation with having observed the dietary guidelines.

Abstract: Subjective health status was assessed in relation to overweight by administering a list of 51 health complaints to adult men and women who were either chronically overweight as defined by Body Mass Index (BMI) or not overweight, in a continuous morbidity registration in four general practices during the period 1967-83. Responses were received from 455 men (182 overweight) and 790 women (386 overweight), ages 26-66 years. Response rate (71 per ¢) and age distribution (mean age 48) were similar in overweight and non-overweight groups of both sexes. BMI was correlated with the total number of complaints in women (r = 0.15) but not in men (r = 0.07). Multiple regression analysis revealed, however, that age was an effect modifier in this relation, there being a negative association between BMI and subjective health m younger men and a positive association in older men, whereas in women the association between BMI and subjective health was much more pronounced at younger ages than at older ages. In addition, current smoking habits and social class (in men and women) and reported slimming behavior (in women) had an independent relation to the total number of health complaints. BMI was also related to specific complaints and groups of complaints, particularly in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After an initial 4-wk period, 36 healthy male subjects aged 1 9-28 y (14 lactoovovegetanians and 22 omnivores) were given a supplement to their usual diet of 27.9 mmol calcium/d for 5 wk. During this period 22 blood pressure measurements were taken and 30 24-h urine specimens and 1 5 24-h dietary records were obtained. Base-line blood pressures did not differ significantly between vegetarians and omnivores (1 18.3/59.3 and 1 19.5/60.7, respectively). At the end of the supplementation period there was a decrease in diastolic blood pressure of 1.4 mm Hg (p < 0. 10) and an unexpected increase in systolic blood pressure of 2.1 mm Hg (p < 0.01) in the omnivores. Although not significant, the same trends were observed in the vegetarians. In both groups Ca and magnesium excretions increased significantly and phosphorus excretion decreased significantly. Blood pressure of normotensive subjects with high basal Ca intake may not be sensitive to Ca supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to distinguish between intra-abdominal and subcutaneous abdominal fat may be important in epidemiologic and clinical research. In this study anthropometric measurements were taken from 71 men and 34 women presenting for routine computed tomography (CT). Areas of abdominal fat were calculated from CT scans made at the level of the L4 vertebra. The amounts of intra-abdominal and subcutaneous abdominal fat could be accurately predicted from several circumferences, skinfold measurements, body mass index, and age (R² ranged from 0.79 to 0.84). In addition, it was found that the area of intra-abdominal fat on the CT scan was related to the waisthip circumference ratio (r = 0.75 in men, r = 0.55 in women) and to the waist: thigh circumference ratio (r = 0.55 in men, r = 0.70 in women). The correlations of the circumference ratios with the areas of subcutaneous fat were invariably lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The validity and reproducibility of a dietary history method with a time of reference of one month was assessed with 44 young adults (aged 19-32 yr). The concurrent validity of the method was assessed by means of the 24-h urine nitrogen excretion. The mean difference between N-intake and N-excretion (24-h urine N-excretion plus 2 g for extra renal nitrogen losses) was 0.0 g with 95%-confidence limits of ±1.1 g. These limits for the mean difference between excretion and intake indicate a valid assessment of the protein intake of this group. The reproducibility was evaluated in the same group through a test-retest design. The intraclass correlation coefficients were high over a weighted average of weekdays and for an average workday with regard to the intakes of energy and selected nutrients. For the Saturday and Sunday intakes, the intraclass correlation coefficients were lower for the energy intakes and most of the nutrients (except alcohol), indicating a poorer reproducibility for weekend assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Frame Categories in Weight-Height Tables," in the previous issue.