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Objective To identify and analyse ongoing nutrition-related surveillance programmes led and/or funded by national authorities in countries in South-East Asian and Western Pacific Regions. Methods We systematically searched for publications in PubMed(r) and Scopus, manually searched the grey literature and consulted with national health and nutrition officials, with no restrictions on publication type or language. We included low- and middle-income countries in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China. We analysed the included programmes by adapting the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's public health surveillance evaluation framework. Findings We identified 82 surveillance programmes in 18 countries that repeatedly collect, analyse and disseminate data on nutrition and/or related indicators. Seventeen countries implemented a national periodic survey that exclusively collects nutrition-outcome indicators, often alongside internationally linked survey programmes. Coverage of different subpopulations and monitoring frequency vary substantially across countries. We found limited integration of food environment and wider food system indicators in these programmes, and no programmes specifically monitor nutrition-sensitive data across the food system. There is also limited nutrition-related surveillance of people living in urban deprived areas. Most surveillance programmes are digitized, use measures to ensure high data quality and report evidence of flexibility; however, many are inconsistently implemented and rely on external agencies' financial support. Conclusion Efforts to improve the time efficiency, scope and stability of national nutrition surveillance, and integration with other sectoral data, should be encouraged and supported to allow systemic monitoring and evaluation of malnutrition interventions in these countries. Objectif Identifier et analyser les programmes de surveillance nutritionnelle en cours, menes et/ou finances par les autorites nationales de pays des regions de l'Asie du Sud-Est et du Pacifique occidental. Methodes Nous avons effectue une recherche systematique de publications sur PubMed(r) et Scopus, mene des recherches manuelles dans la litterature grise et consulte des responsables nationaux de la sante et de la nutrition, sans restriction quant au type de publication ou a la langue. Nous avons inclus les pays a revenu faible et intermediaire de la region de l'Organisation mondiale de la sante pour l'Asie du Sud-Est et de l'Association des nations de l'Asie du Sud-Est, ainsi que la Chine. Nous avons analyse les programmes inclus en adaptant le cadre d'evaluation de la surveillance de la sante publique des Centers for Disease Control and Prevention des Etats-Unis. Resultats Nous avons identifie 82 programmes de surveillance dans 18 pays qui collectent, analysent et diffusent regulierement des donnees sur la nutrition et/ou des indicateurs lies. Dix-sept pays ont mis en reuvre une enquete nationale periodique qui recueille exclusivement des indicateurs de resultats nutritionnels, souvent parallelement a des programmes d'enquete lies a l'echelle internationale. La couverture des differentes sous-populations et la frequence de surveillance varient considerablement d'un pays a l'autre. Nous avons constate dans ces programmes une integration limitee des indicateurs portant sur l'environnement alimentaire et le systeme alimentaire au sens large, et aucun programme ne surveille specifiquement les donnees prenant en compte la nutrition dans l'ensemble du systeme alimentaire. La surveillance nutritionnelle des personnes vivant dans des zones urbaines defavorisees est egalement limitee. La plupart des programmes de surveillance existent sous une forme numerisee, recourent a des mesures pour garantir la qualite des donnees et font preuve de flexibilite, mais beaucoup sont mis en reuvre de maniere incoherente et dependent du soutien financier d'agences exterieures. Conclusion Les efforts visant a ameliorer l'efficacite temporelle, la portee et la stabilite de la surveillance nutritionnelle a l'echelle nationale, ainsi que l'integration avec d'autres donnees sectorielles, devraient etre encourages et soutenus afin de permettre un suivi et une evaluation systemiques des interventions en matiere de malnutrition dans ces pays. Objetivo Identificar y analizar los programas de vigilancia en curso relacionados con la nutricion que dirigen o financian las autoridades nacionales de los paises de las regiones de Asia Sudoriental y el Pacifico Occidental. Metodos Se realizaron busquedas sistematicas de publicaciones en PubMed(r) y Scopus, busquedas manuales en la literatura gris y consultas con funcionarios nacionales de salud y nutricion, sin restricciones de tipo de publicacion ni de idioma. Se incluyeron paises de ingresos bajos y medios de la Region de Asia Sudoriental de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud y de la Asociacion de Naciones de Asia Sudoriental y China. Para analizar los programas incluidos se adapto el marco de evaluacion de la vigilancia de la salud publica de los Centros para el Control y la Prevencion de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos. Resultados Se identificaron 82 programas de vigilancia en 18 paises que recopilan, analizan y difunden repetidamente datos sobre nutricion o indicadores relacionados. Diecisiete paises aplicaron una encuesta periodica nacional que recopila exclusivamente indicadores de resultados nutricionales, por lo general junto con programas de encuestas internacionales. La cobertura de las diferentes subpoblaciones y la frecuencia del seguimiento varian sustancialmente de un pais a otro. Se hallo una integracion limitada de los indicadores del entorno alimentario y del sistema alimentario en general en estos programas y ningun programa supervisa especificamente los datos que tienen en cuenta la nutricion en todo el sistema alimentario. Tambien es limitada la vigilancia relacionada con la nutricion de las personas que viven en areas urbanas desfavorecidas. La mayoria de los programas de vigilancia estan digitalizados, utilizan medidas para garantizar la alta calidad de los datos y presentan evidencias de flexibilidad; sin embargo, muchos se aplican de forma incoherente y dependen del apoyo financiero de organismos externos. Conclusion Se deben fomentar y apoyar los esfuerzos para mejorar la eficiencia temporal, el alcance y la estabilidad de la vigilancia nacional de la nutricion, asi como la integracion con otros datos sectoriales, para permitir un seguimiento y una evaluacion sistemicos de las intervenciones contra la malnutricion en estos paises. [phrase omitted], Introduction In south-east Asia, low- and middle-income countries have a high burden from all forms of malnutrition, such as underweight, wasting, stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. [...]

Background Despite scientific evidence on the potential impact or importance of specific interventions to improve micronutrient status of vulnerable groups, political commitment and extensive support from national stakeholders is paramount to support introduction and implementation of these interventions at national level. In order to develop efficient nutritional strategies to improve the micronutrient status of children < 5 years of age and women of reproductive age that will be supported by a wide range of stakeholders, a better understanding of viewpoints on the nutrition politics and strategies is necessary. Multi-criteria mapping (MCM) was successfully used to assess the stakeholder's viewpoint in a wide variety of contexts since the late 1990s. Objective The objective of the present study was to assess the viewpoints of stakeholders on a wide range of potential nutritional interventions in the five Southeast Asian countries participating in the SMILING project. Method MCM methodology was used to appraise the stakeholder's viewpoints in five countries. Results The results show that the overall stakeholders' preference was for actions already implemented in their country rather than for new, innovative options, even for supplementation. Indirect interventions such like food fortification (except in Indonesia), delayed cord clamping or food-based approaches were generally less favored by the stakeholders. However, the majority of stakeholders agreed that new approaches should be considered and put in place in the future provided that evidence of their impact was demonstrated, that they received adequate technical support for their implementation and their monitoring, and that they will be accompanied by strong advocacy among decision-makers, civil society and beneficiaries. Conclusions for practice To conclude, for the introduction of new, innovative strategies to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in South-East Asia, convincing stakeholders appears to be the first hurdle to be taken., Author(s): Valerie Greffeuille [sup.1] , Yves Kameli [sup.1] , Chhoun Chamnan [sup.2] , Mary Chea [sup.3] , Sok Daream [sup.2] , Pattanee Winichagoon [sup.4] , Chaniphun Butryee [sup.4] , Bach [...]

Objectives Micronutrient deficiencies, in southeast Asia (SE Asia), remain a public health challenge. We evaluated whether promoting the consumption of locally available nutritious foods, which is a low-risk micronutrient intervention, alone can ensure dietary adequacy, for women of reproductive age and 6-23 m old children. Methods Representative dietary data from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam were analysed using linear programming analysis to identify nutrients that are likely low in personal food environments (problem nutrients), and to formulate food-based recommendations (FBRs) for three to six target populations per country. Results The number of problem nutrients ranged from zero for 12-23 m olds in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to six for pregnant women in Cambodia. The FBRs selected for each target population, if adopted, would ensure a low percentage of the population was at risk of inadequate intakes for five to ten micronutrients, depending on the country and target population. Of the 11 micronutrients modelled, requirements for iron, calcium and folate were most difficult to meet ([greater than or equal to] 10 of the 24 target populations), using FBRs alone. The number of individual FBRs selected per set, for each target population, ranged from three to eight; and often included meat, fish or eggs, liver/organ meats, vegetables and fruits. Conclusions for practice Intervention strategies need to increase access to nutritious foods, including products fortified with micronutrients, in SE Asia, when aiming to ensure dietary adequacy for most individuals in the population., Author(s): Elaine L. Ferguson [sup.1] , Louise Watson [sup.1] , Jacques Berger [sup.2] , Mary Chea [sup.3] , Uraiporn Chittchang [sup.4] , Umi Fahmida [sup.5] , Kuong Khov [sup.6] , [...]

Background: Poor nutritional quality of complementary foods often limits growth. Animal source foods, such as milk or meat, are often unaffordable. Local affordable alternatives are needed. Objective: We evaluate the efficacy of 2 newly developed, rice-based complementary food products: WinFood (WF) with small fish and edible spiders and WinFood-Lite (WF-L) fortified with small fish, against 2 existing fortified corn-soy blend products, CSB+ (purely plant based) and CSB++ (8% dried skimmed milk). Design: In total, 419 infants aged 6 mo were enrolled in this randomized, single-blinded study for 9 mo, designed primarily to assess increments in fat-free mass by a deuterium dilution technique and change in plasma ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor. Secondary endpoints were changes in anthropometric variables, including kneeheel length. Data were analyzed by the intention-to-treat approach. Results: There was no difference in fat-free mass increment in WF or WF-L compared with CSB+ [WF: +0.04 kg (95% CI: 20.20, 0.28 kg); WF-L: +0.14 kg (95% CI: 20.10, 0.38 kg)] or CSB++ [WF: 20.03 kg (95% CI: 20.27, 0.21 kg); WF-L: +0.07 kg (95% CI: 20.18, 0.31 kg)] and no effect on iron status. The 1.7-mm (95% CI: 20.1, 3.5 mm) greater increase in knee-heel length in WF-L than in CSB+ was not significant. Conclusions: No difference was found between the locally produced products (WF and WF-L) and the CSBs. Micronutrient fortification may be necessary, and small fish may be an affordable alternative to milk to improve complementary foods. The dietary role of edible spiders needs to be further explored. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN19918531. Am J Clin Nutr 2015;101:742-51. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The "Sustainable Micronutrient Interventions to Control Deficiencies and Improve Nutritional Status and General Health in Asia" project (SMILING), funded by the European Commission, is a transnational collaboration of research institutions and implementation agencies in five Southeast Asian countries--Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam--with European partners, to support the application of state-ofthe art knowledge to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition in Southeast Asia. Objective: The major expected outcomes are to improve micronutrient status on a large scale, to identify priority interventions in each Southeast Asian country, and to develop a road map for decision makers and donors for inclusion of these priority interventions into the national policy. Methods: SMILING has been built around a strong project consortium that works on a constant and proactive exchange of data and analyses between partners and allows for the differences in contexts and development stages of the countries, as well as a strong North-South- South collaboration and colearning. Results: The selection of Southeast Asian countries considered the range of social and economic development, the extent of micronutrient malnutrition, and capacity and past success in nutrition improvement efforts. SMILING is applying innovative tools that support nutrition policy-making and programming. The mathematical modeling technique combined with linear programming will provide insight into which food-based strategies have the potential to provide essential (micro) nutrients for women and young children. Multicriteria mapping will offer a flexible decision-aiding tool taking into account the variability and uncertainty of opinions from key stakeholders. The lessons learned throughout the project will be widely disseminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]