Health Food Supplement Research Articles

Use of the Information Concerning the Products Manufacturing in Innovative Learning and Education Programme for Health Care Sector

The present paper presents the educational activities of a Leonardo da Vinci project from Lifelong Learning Programme, project called "Launching of Sector Skills Alliance for Training & Apprenticeship of Health Care and Food Supplements Salespersons" (H-CARE). The project aims to provide an innovative and practically oriented training curriculum for Health sector stakeholders, who offer services in assistive technologies, medical devices and food supplements. The curriculum includes information about medical devices, assistive technologies and food supplements, such as products manufacturing, specific characteristics, and potential risks caused by their use.

Influence of Different Drying Treatments and Extraction Solvents on the Metabolite Profile and Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activity of Ajwa Dates.

This study aimed to examine the variation in the metabolite profiles and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity of Ajwa dates that were subjected to 2 drying treatments and different extraction solvents. (1)H NMR coupled with multivariate data analysis was employed. A Griess assay was used to determine the inhibition of the production of NO in RAW 264.7 cells treated with LPS and interferon-γ. The oven dried (OD) samples demonstrated the absence of asparagine and ascorbic acid as compared to the freeze dried (FD) dates. The principal component analysis showed distinct clusters between the OD and FD dates by the second principal component. In respect of extraction solvents, chloroform extracts can be distinguished by the absence of arginine, glycine and asparagine compared to the methanol and 50% methanol extracts. The chloroform extracts can be clearly distinguished from the methanol and 50% methanol extracts by first principal component. Meanwhile, the loading score plot of partial least squares analysis suggested that beta glucose, alpha glucose, choline, ascorbic acid and glycine were among the metabolites that were contributing to higher biological activity displayed by FD and methanol extracts of Ajwa. The results highlight an alternative method of metabolomics approach for determination of the metabolites that contribute to NO inhibitory activity. The association between metabolite profiles and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity of the various extracts of Ajwa dates was evaluated by utilizing partial least squares (PLS) model. The validated PLS model can be employed to predict the NO inhibitory activity of new samples of date fruits based on their NMR spectra which was important for assessing fruit quality. The information gained might be used as guidance for quality control, nutritional values and as a basis for the preparation of any food supplements for human health that employs date palm fruit as the raw material.

Jaunesniojo mokyklinio amžiaus vaikų gyvensenos ypatumai ir sveikatos stiprinimas šeimoje

Jaunesniame mokykliniame amžiuje formuojasi vaiko asmenybė, sveikos gyvensenos įpročiai, įgyjamos žinios. Todėl labai svarbu sveikos ir saugios gyvensenos pagrindus padėti jau ankstyvoje vaikystėje. Šeima – svarbiausia vaiko artimiausios aplinkos dalis, formuojanti jo elgseną ir gyvenseną. Darbo tikslas – ištirti jaunesniojo mokyklinio amžiaus vaikų gyvensenos ir sveikatos stiprinimo šeimoje ypatumus. Taikyta apklausa raštu. Tyrime dalyvavo 530 tėvų, kurių vaikai mokosi 1-3 klasėse (7- 9 metų). Nustatyta, kad dauguma tėvų savo vaiko sveikatą linkę vertinti kaip labai gerą arba gerą. Tik apie penktadalio šeimų, auginančių jaunesniojo mokyklinio amžiaus vaikus, gyvenimo būdas aktyvus. Didelė tėvų dalis vaikų fizinei sveikatai stiprinti renkasi vitaminus bei maisto papildus, daugiau kaip pusė respondentų grūdina savo vaikus ir skatina judėti. Vaikų psichinės sveikatos puoselėjimo būdais dažniausiai įvardijami bendravimas su vaiku ir bendras iškilusių problemų sprendimas. Darbo dienomis dauguma vaikų judriems žaidimams ir sportui lauke skiria 1-2 val., savaitgaliais šiai veiklai skiriama daugiau laiko. Prie kompiuterio ar televizoriaus iki 1 val. darbo dienomis praleidžia apie penktadalis mokinių, o savaitgaliais praleidžiamo laiko trukmė ilgėja. Apie penktadalis mokinių visada laikosi dienotvarkės. Šiek tiek daugiau negu pusės jaunesniojo mokyklinio amžiaus vaikų miego pradžia darbo dienomis yra 20-21 val. Savaitgaliais vaikų miego pradžios laikas vėlinamas. Savaitgaliais labai maža vaikų dalis eina miegoti tuo pačiu metu kaip ir darbo dienomis.

Differential identification of mushrooms sclerotia by IR macro-fingerprint method

Many macrofungus sclerotia are well-known medicinal herbs, health food and nutritional supplements. However, the prevalent adulterant commercial products are major hindrances to their incorporation into mainstream medical use in many countries. The mushroom sclerotia of Lignosus rhinocerotis, Poria cocos, Polyporus umbellatus, Pleurotus tuber-regium and Omphalia lapidescens are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, IR macro-fingerprint method was used in the identification of these sclerotia. The results showed that the spectrum of L. rhinocerotis (LR) was comparable with P. cocos with 94.4% correlation, except that the peak at 1543cm−1 of LR appeared in lower intensity. The spectrum of P. umbellatus and P. tuber-regium was also correlated (91.5%), as both spectra could be clearly discriminated in that P. umbellatus spectrum has small base peaks located at the range of 1680–1500cm−1. O. lapidescens was not comparable with all the other sclerotia as its spectrum was totally different. Its base peak was broad and derivated equally along the range. The first IR has revealed the dissimilarity among five mushrooms sclerotia. The second derivative and 2DIR further enhanced the identification in detail.

Phosphorus fertilization and inflorescence removal in American ginseng culture

The recent increase in the demand for American ginseng as a health food supplement has stimulated interest in studying the possibility of improvement of its yield and quality. The current study was aimed at determination of the optimum conditions for high-yielding raw material production by increasing phosphorus fertilization and manual inflorescence removal. The four-year-long field experiment clearly demonstrates that phosphorus plays an important role in American ginseng yield and quality. Along with increasing P doses, improvement in the root shape and weight, ginsenoside content and yield was observed. A similar tendency was noted in the case of leaf and stem; however, they contained higher amounts of ginsenosides and could be a valuable source of active substances under study (especially Rb2, Re, and Rd). Deflowering during three of the four vegetation periods of American ginseng resulted in the highest yield of aerial parts (by 24%) and the highest root yield (by 86%), whereas deflowering performed in the 2nd and 3rd year was connected with a 31% increase in root and 16% in leaf and stem yield, compared with the treatment with no inflorescence removal. Deflowering was also connected with higher root weight and a higher content of ginsenosides. Moreover, by increasing the phosphorus dose, reduction of the raw material yield caused by discontinuation of inflorescence removal can be narrowed.

Healthy supplements of silymarin and aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza on the pharmacokinetic interaction of lamivudine in rats

Silymarin and Salvia miltiorrhiza are commonly used in various functional foods, daily herbal health supplements and food supplements for the treatment and prevention of liver disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the herbal–drug interactions of silymarin and the aqueous extract of S. miltiorrhiza (AESM) on the pharmacokinetics of lamivudine in rat plasma as measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). A rapid and sensitive LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Experimental rats were divided into the following four parallel groups: (1) lamivudine (10 mg/kg, i.v.) alone as a control group, (2) lamivudine (10 mg/kg, i.v.) + pretreated with silymarin (0.5 g/kg/day, p.o., daily for 5 days), (3) lamivudine (10 mg/kg, i.v.) + pretreated with AESM (1.0 g/kg/day, p.o., daily for 5 days), and (4) lamivudine (10 mg/kg, i.v.) + pretreated with silymarin (0.5 g/kg/day, p.o., daily for 5 days) + AESM (1.0 g/kg/day, p.o., daily for 5 days). The pharmacokinetic results demonstrate that AESM significantly increased lamivudine half-life (t1/2), area-under concentration curve (AUC), and mean residence time (MRT), while clearance (CL) decreased. Thus, this study provides preclinical information regarding the pharmacokinetic interactions between lamivudine and the herbal health supplements.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography of amino acids for the quality assessment of pearl powder.

Pearls have been widely used as a traditional medicine, in cosmetics, and as a health food supplement in China since ancient times. However, the identification and quality assessment of pearl powder have been challenging tasks because of the similar morphological features and chemical composition of its common adulterants, especially conch powders. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography was combined with pre-column derivatization to rapidly quantify 14 amino acids in pearl powder and its analogues. Based upon the quantification results, a quality criterion of a total amino acid content of not less than 1.10% was proposed for pearl powder. Principal component analysis indicated that leucine and phenylalanine were the amino acids characteristic for distinguishing between pearls and nacres. The area ratio of leucine to phenylalanine was demonstrated to be an effective diagnostic marker to discriminate freshwater cultured pearls, natural seawater pearls, and nacres. The proposed method, involving both the qualitative and quantitative aspects, was subsequently applied to quality assessment of pearl powders purchased commercially in various parts of China; eight out of 18 batches were deemed authentic and unadulterated. In the future, this analytical process should play a significant role in standardizing and providing quality control to the pearl powder market.

Concentration effects of grape seed extracts in anti-oral cancer cells involving differential apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.

BackgroundGrape seeds extract (GSE) is a famous health food supplement for its antioxidant property. Different concentrations of GSE may have different impacts on cellular oxidative/reduction homeostasis. Antiproliferative effect of GSE has been reported in many cancers but rarely in oral cancer.MethodsThe aim of this study is to examine the antioral cancer effects of different concentrations of GSE in terms of cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial function, and DNA damage.ResultsHigh concentrations (50–400 μg/ml) of GSE dose-responsively inhibited proliferation of oral cancer Ca9-22 cells but low concentrations (1–10 μg/ml) of GSE showed a mild effect in a MTS assay. For apoptosis analyses, subG1 population and annexin V intensity in high concentrations of GSE-treated Ca9-22 cells was increased but less so at low concentrations. ROS generation and mitochondrial depolarization increased dose-responsively at high concentrations but showed minor changes at low concentrations of GSE in Ca9-22 cells. Additionally, high concentrations of GSE dose-responsively induced more γH2AX-based DNA damage than low concentrations.ConclusionsDifferential concentrations of GSE may have a differentially antiproliferative function against oral cancer cells via differential apoptosis, oxidative stress and DNA damage.

Effect of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol on Immune Functions in Healthy Adults in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

We previously reported that 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG) accelerates hematopoiesis and has an improving effect on animal disease models such as sepsis and asthma. The effects of PLAG supplementation on immune modulation were assessed in healthy men and women. The objective was to evaluate the effects of PLAG supplementation on immune regulatory functions such as activities of immune cells and cytokine production. A randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Seventy-five participants were assigned to one of two groups; all participants had an appropriate number of white blood cells on the testing day. The PLAG group (n=27) received oral PLAG supplements and the control group (n=22) received oral soybean oil supplements. IL-4 and IL-6 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were lower (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) with PLAG than with soybean oil. However, the production of IL-2 and IFN-γ by PBMC was unaltered with PLAG supplementation. The B cell proliferation decreased significantly in the PLAG group compared to the soybean oil control (p<0.05). The intake of PLAG in healthy adults for 4 weeks was deemed safe. These data suggest that PLAG has an immunomodulatory function that inhibits the excessive immune activity of immunological disorders such as atopic and autoimmune diseases. PLAG could improve the condition of these diseases safely as a health food supplement.

Brain Food for Alzheimer-Free Ageing: Focus on Herbal Medicines.

Healthy brain aging and the problems of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are a global concern. Beyond 60 years of age, most, if not everyone, will experience a decline in cognitive skills, memory capacity and changes in brain structure. Longevity eventually leads to an accumulation of amyloid plaques and/or tau tangles, including some vascular dementia damage. Therefore, lifestyle choices are paramount to leading either a brain-derived or a brain-deprived life. The focus of this review is to critically examine the evidence, impact, influence and mechanisms of natural products as chemopreventive agents which induce therapeutic outcomes that modulate the aggregation process of beta-amyloid (Aβ), providing measureable cognitive benefits in the aging process. Plants can be considered as chemical factories that manufacture huge numbers of diverse bioactive substances, many of which have the potential to provide substantial neuroprotective benefits. Medicinal herbs and health food supplements have been widely used in Asia since over 2,000 years. The phytochemicals utilized in traditional Chinese medicine have demonstrated safety profiles for human consumption. Many herbs with anti-amyloidogenic activity, including those containing polyphenolic constituents such as green tea, turmeric, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Panax ginseng, are presented. Also covered in this review are extracts from kitchen spices including cinnamon, ginger, rosemary, sage, salvia herbs, Chinese celery and many others some of which are commonly used in herbal combinations and represent highly promising therapeutic natural compounds against AD. A number of clinical trials conducted on herbs to counter dementia and AD are discussed.

The water extract of Angelica Sinensis Radix protects cultured PC12 cells against oxidative stress: suppression of reactive oxygen species and activation of anti-oxidant response elements

Objective: Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR; Dang Gui; the root of Angelica sinensis) is a herbal supplement that has been used in invigorating blood circulation. Here, we provided different lines of evidence to support the beneficial role of ASR against oxidative stress in cultured PC12 cell, a rat pheochromocytoma cell line. Methods: The water extract of ASR inhibited the activity of xanthine oxidase in vitro. In cultures, the pre-treatment of ASR water extract reduced the cytotoxic effect of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP), an oxidative stress inducer. Results: The protecting mechanisms of ASR were shown to be mediated by: (i) suppression of tBHP-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation; (ii) induction of caspase-3 and PARP activities; and (iii) stimulation of mRNAs encoding antioxidative genes, glutathione S-transferase A2 (GSTA2) and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), via the transcriptional activation of antioxidant response element (ARE). The outcome was the prevention of tBHP-induced cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Interestingly, the protective effect of ASR extract in PC12 cells were insignificant when challenging by insults of -amlyoid (for Alzheimer’s disease) and MPP+ (for Parkinson’s disease). Taken together, we revealed a neurobeneficial role of ASR in protecting neuronal cells against oxidative damage, which might be useful in developing health food supplements for disease prevention in future.

Edible Bird’s Nest, an Asian Health Food Supplement, Possesses Skin Lightening Activities: Identification of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid as Active Ingredient

Edible bird’s nest (EBN; Yan Wo), or cubilose, is originated from the salivary secretion of Aerodramus fuciphagus. In Asia, EBN is famous for its unproven skin lightening function. Here, we aim to reveal the active ingredients of EBN responsible for skin lightening function. Three major fractions were isolated from EBN water extract by chromatography using LC-MS/MS, bioactivities of these isolated fractions were analyzed by assays of tyrosinase, melanocytes and 3D human skin model, from which, N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), the second isolated fraction showed an inhibition effect on tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of tyrosinase originated from mushroom and human was 16.93 mM and 0.10 mM respectively. Furthermore, only EBN with higher content of NANA (e.g. White and Red EBN), but not EBN with less NANA (e.g. Grass EBN), showed promising skin lightening function. This is the first report to reveal NANA being an active ingredient of EBN on skin lightening function.

Probabilistic analysis of weight variability in tablets & capsules arising from the filling of a cavity with powder of a poly-dispersed size

The filling of a cavity space with a powdered material to produce tablets, capsules or pellets is an important operation across a number of industries including pharmaceuticals, health-food supplements and animal feeds. Variability in the mass of the product must be controlled. The objective of this paper is to quantify the dispersion in the tablet mass as a result of non-uniformity in the amount of material deposited in the cavity by consideration of the basic statistics of the process. The system under analysis is where powder is poured into a cavity, allowed to overflow the cavity and the free surface swept horizontally. A statistical approach to the parameters that introduce variability into the system is adopted to quantify the resulting dispersion in weight. Theoretical expressions for the mean and variance in tablet mass are developed. It is shown that dispersion in tablet mass results from variability in powder size and in the number of particles deposited in the cavity together with the effects of random packing. The theory is validated using a model system of glass beads and then applied to a more realistic example of pharmaceutical particles. It is shown that as a result of this analysis there are approaches that can be used to reduce tablet weight dispersion.

An Overview on Assistive Technology Training Courses for Salespersons

Assistive technology is any device or system that increases, maintains or improves the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. There are a lot of national and international Assistive technology training programs aiming to expand the knowledge base of professionals, and introduce newcomers to the disability field. These training programs help participants in understanding the utility and the effects of assistive technology and the possible areas of application. The paper presents the training courses of an educational European project called "Launching of Sector Skills Alliance for Training &amp; Apprenticeship of Health Care and Food Supplements Salespersons" (H-CARE). The H-CARE project uses e-learning technologies to provide training courses and apprenticeship in the area of Health care (Assistive Technology) and food supplements. (H-CARE) was developed by a consortium of partners made of governmental organizations, universities, associations and small enterprises that complement each other in their respective contributions to the project. The graduates will be able to explain the Assistive Technology solutions to meet the needs of disabled people, to identify and select appropriate devices and to evaluate the implementation of Assistive Technology solutions through marketing principles.

Myricetin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, and pro-apoptotic effects on esophageal carcinoma EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2.

Myricetin, a common dietary flavonoid, is widely distributed in fruits and vegetables and is used as a health food supplement based on its anti-tumor properties. However, the effect and mechanisms of myricetin in esophageal carcinoma are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated the effect of myricetin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of the esophageal carcinoma cell lines EC9706 and KYSE30 and explored the underlying mechanism and target protein(s) of myricetin. CCK-8 assay, transwell invasion assay, wound-healing assay, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis assay were used to evaluate the effects of myricetin on cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Nude mouse tumor xenograft model was built to understand the interaction between myricetin and NTD RSK2. Pull-down assay was used to verify molecular mechanism. Myricetin inhibited proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis of EC9706 and KYSE30 cells. Moreover, myricetin was shown to bind RSK2 through the NH2-terminal kinase domain. Finally, myricetin inhibited EC9706 and KYSE30 cell proliferation through Mad1 and induced cell apoptosis via Bad. Myricetin inhibits the proliferation and invasion and induces apoptosis in EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2. Myricetin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, and pro-apoptotic effects on esophageal carcinoma EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2. Our results provide novel insight into myricetin as a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of esophageal carcinoma.

Combined use of conventional medicine with traditional Korean medicine to treat children with epilepsy.

Few studies have been conducted among pediatric patients to examine clinical outcomes associated with the combined use of Oriental medicine and other therapies to treat epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical and laboratory characteristics of children with epilepsy being treated with traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in addition to their conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and to survey whether other nonpharmacologic combination treatments were also being used. The study included 398 pediatric patients with epilepsy being treated at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Pusan National University Children's Hospital. A questionnaire-based survey was carried out to determine the extent to which combination treatments were being used from March 1 to July 31, 2011. Of the 398 epileptic patients, 75 (18.8%) were receiving treatment based on TKM in addition to their AED treatment. The number of AEDs used was significantly greater in this group (mean ± standard deviation, 2.3 ± 1.5) than in the group not receiving TKM (2.0 ± 1.2; p=.028). The number of seizure-free patients in the TKM group (44 patients [59%]) was significantly reduced (p=.037) compared with the group not receiving such treatment (236 patients [73%]). Of the 398 patients, 237 (59.5%) were receiving other combination treatments. Fifty-six of the 75 patients (74.7%) in the TKM group were receiving other combination treatments (p<.001 compared with nonusers), which included language therapy, education therapy (music therapy, art therapy), Chuna therapy, and health food supplements (p=.004, p<.001, p=.011, and p=.004, respectively). The use of other combination treatments, such as rehabilitation therapy, counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and neurofeedback therapy, did not differ between the two groups. The TKM group took more AEDs and had fewer seizure-free patients and more patients receiving other combination treatments, such as language, music, and art therapies.

Enhancement of recombinant myricetin on the radiosensitivity of lung cancer A549 and H1299 cells

ObjectiveMyricetin, a common dietary flavonoid is widely distributed in fruits and vegetables, and is used as a health food supplement based on its immune function, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of myricetin on combination with radiotherapy enhance radiosensitivity of lung cancer A549 and H1299 cells.MethodsA549 cells and H1299 cells were exposed to X-ray with or without myricetin treatment. Colony formation assays, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and Caspase-3 level detection were used to evaluate the radiosensitization activity of myricetin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. Nude mouse tumor xenograft model was built to assessed radiosensitization effect of myricetin in vivo.ResultsCompared with the exposed group without myricetin treatment, the groups treated with myricetin showed significantly suppressed cell surviving fraction and proliferation, increased the cell apoptosis and increased Caspase-3 protein expression after X-ray exposure in vitro. And in vivo assay, growth speed of tumor xenografts was significantly decreased in irradiated mice treated with myricetin.ConclusionsThe study demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo evidence that combination of myricetin with radiotherapy can enhance tumor radiosensitivity of pulmonary carcinoma A549 and H1299 cells, and myricetin could be a potential radiosensitizer for lung cancer therapy.Virtual slidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/5791518001210633

Eat your orchid and have it too: a potentially new conservation formula for Chinese epiphytic medicinal orchids

About a quarter of Chinese wild orchid species are used in traditional medicine or as health food supplements. The market demand for some species, such as those in the epiphytic genus Dendrobium, has diminished many wild populations to local extinction or dangerously small numbers. Conservation of these heavily exploited orchids currently relies on a two-pronged approach: establishing nature reserves and encouraging massive commercial cultivation in artificial settings. We argue that these measures are not sufficient to restore or maintain healthy wild populations, and augmentation and reintroduction of these species in natural forests are needed. We argue for an unconventional reintroduction approach, in which populations planted in natural forests are allowed to be sustainably harvested (restoration-friendly cultivation). Because Dendrobium orchids are epiphytic, restoration-friendly cultivation of these species will not be at the expenses of other native plants. In addition, market premiums on wild-collected medicinal plants will generate incentives for farmers who participate in restoration-friendly cultivation to preserve natural forests. With proper policy and oversight, the restoration-friendly cultivation of medicinal Dendrobium orchids will facilitate the conservation of these threatened species, encourage protection of natural forests, and benefit marginalized rural communities. Adding this restoration-friendly cultivation into the current mix of conservation approaches has the potential to turn deeply-entrenched traditional uses of orchids from a conservation challenge to a conservation success.

The Need for a Legal Distinction of Nutraceuticals

The nutraceutical and botanical terms are often used by the lay press or for marketing purposes to describe health beneficial food, food supplements or herbs. However, there is no common definition of nutraceuticals or botanicals and moreover a lack of regulation that classifies this category. Concerning their health value, it is unclear if they belong to drugs or food. Currently, they fall into a legal limbo between both. This regulatory lack can lead to misuse of claims indicating a health benefit or the misleading of the consumer. This review will focus on current definitions of nutraceutical, botanical, functional food and food supplements with special emphasis on the differences between the US and European legislation. Some special considerations will be given for Germany, one of the main markets for food supplements in Europe.

Determinants of complementary feeding practices among Nepalese children aged 6–23 months: findings from demographic and health survey 2011

BackgroundThe adoption of inappropriate feeding practices is one of the reasons for under nutrition in Nepal and elsewhere. The objective of this study was to describe the rate of and identify the factors associated with providing the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended infant feeding practices of minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet in Nepal amongst young children between 6–23 months in 2011.MethodsData from Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2011 was used. Prevalence of minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet was obtained by using descriptive statistics. A Chi-square test (χ2) followed by multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the adjusted effect of potential factors on the outcome variables.ResultsOf the 698 children aged 6–23 months; while 535 (76.6%) received the minimum meal frequency, only 212 (30.4%) children received the minimum dietary diversity, and 185 (26.5%) received an acceptable diet. Children of older mothers (>35 years); educated mothers and fathers; and mothers from all the development regions except the Mid-western region were more likely to have been provided with the recommended dietary diversity. Children of mothers who had attended ≥4 antenatal visits and who lived in the Eastern region were more likely to provide their child with the recommended meal frequency. Children of mothers, who attended ≥ 4 antenatal visits, were educated and whose fathers had at least a secondary education were more likely to meet the recommended acceptable diet standards.ConclusionYoung children aged less than two years in Nepal are at risk for not meeting the WHO recommended infant feeding standards given that only about one in three children were provided with the recommended dietary diversity and acceptable diet. This finding suggests that the majority of children are at risk of under nutrition. An appropriate mix of health education and food supplements could be a feasible option for Nepal to improve the number of children who meet the recommended infant feeding guidelines, reduce under nutrition and improve the survival rates of young children.