Weaning-food viscosity and energy density: their effects on ad libitum consumption and energy intakes in Jamaican children

The effects of weaning-food viscosity and energy density on consumption and energy intake were determined in 15 non-breast-fed Jamaican children aged 7-15 mo under standardized conditions. We tested whether feeding thick, energy intakes and whether amylase treatment to reduce viscosity offered any advantage. When a traditional liquid, low-density porridge (2.15 kJ/g) was fed, the mean (ñSD) daily consumption was 139 ñ 25 g/kg and the mean daily energy intake was 296 ñ 54 kJ/kg. When a semisolid high-density porridge (4.09 kJ/g) was fed, consumption was significantly lower (98 ñ 21g/kg) but the daily energy intake was significantly higher - 402 ñ 85 kJ/KG (P < 0.001). Amylase treatment of the thick energy-dense porridge did not increase intakes further. Meal duration for the thick porridge (12.9 ñ 4.0 min) was significantly longer than that for the low-density (7.4 ñ 2.6 min) or amylase-treated (6.4 ñ 1.8 min) porridges (AU)

Biological evaluation of protein quality of sorghum as affected by insect infestation

Protein quality of sorghum grains having 25, 50 and 75 percent infestation caused by mixed population of Trogoderma granarium Everts and Rhizopertha dominica Fabricius was biologically evaluated by rat growth and nitrogen balance studies. Feeding of diet containing insect infested sorghum grains (50 and 75 percent) resulted in marked decrease in food intake, protein intake, gain in body weight, food efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio, nitrogen consumption, nitrogen absorption, biological value, net protein utilization, dry matter digestibility, net protein retention and protein retention efficiency. These parameters showed negative association with insect infestation levels. However, 25 percent level of grain infestation did not affect these parameters significantly (AU)

Available carbohydrates of cereal grains as affected by storage and insect infestation

Total soluble sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and starch contents of wheat, maize and sorghum grains were affected adversely at 25, 50 and 75 percent insect infestation caused by Trogoderma granarium Everts and Rhizopertha dominica Fabricius, separately and mixed population. R. dominica caused significant (P < 0.05) reduction in available carbohydrates at 50 and 75 percent. Mixture of both insect species caused intermediate losses. Storage of cereal grains up to 4 months resulted in substantial increase in sugars and decrease in starch content, but storage for a shorter period of time did not cause any significant changes in levels of carbohydrates (Summary)

Characteristics of a rural area community mental health programme County Caroni

The paper describes characteristics and trends in a rural area Community Mental Health programme. Research done by the mental health team supports some of the previously held notions on alcoholism and dispels some myths about parasuicide and suicide. Education at all levels continues to be an important preventative measure in the fight against drug abuse. The effort to set up an Alcohol and Referral Center is partly thwarted by poor community resources. The mental health team has had to enlist the support of service organisations in their educationl programmes. More work needs to be done in the area of psychogeriatrics, rehabilitation and family life. The need for closer links between governmental agencies and the community is emphasized. (AU)

A comparison of the nutritional value of two weaning foods

The nutritional values of a traditional banana porridge and a new commercially produced porridge, Cerex, were compared in a feeding trial. The banana porridge contained banana flour, wheat flour, condensed milk and water. Cerex porridge was made from cerex (corn, rice, soya and fortified skimmed milk powders) made isocaloric to the banana porridge (100 Kcal/100g) with the addition of oil, sugar and water. The porridges were fed at libitum as the only source of nutrients to 8 children recovering from malnutrition for 10 days on each porridge in a cross over design. There were 5 girls and 3 boys, aged 6-16 months, all of whom were about 80 percent weight for height at the start of the study. Anthropometric measurements and the intakes of porridges were recorded. The protein and energy content of the porridges as fed were measured. The children gained weight at the same rate on both porridges: a rate comparable to that achieved on "high calorie milk" used as a routine for treating malnutrition in TMRU. The mean rate of weight gained on cerex porridge was 13.1 ñ 6.3 (SD) g/kg/d, for banana porridge 12.5 ñ 5.2 (SD) g/kg/d. This is 3 times as fast as a normal child of the same average weight and 13 times as fast as a normal child of the same average age. The mean food intakes of cerex (147 ñ 19 (SD) g/kg/d) and banana (156 ñ 16 (SD) g/kg/d) porridges were not significantly different nor was there a statistical difference in the mean energy intakes between cerex (159 Kcal/kg/d) and banana (161 Kcal/kg/d) porridges. Although cerex porridge provided more protein (5.39 > 3.73g/kg/d.p < 0.05), the protein in green banana porridge was more efficiently utilized for balanced weight gain as the energy cost of weight gain was the same on both porridges. At the projected retail price for cerex, that porridge provides more energy/dollar than green banana flour porridge based on the actual retail price of banana flour. However, the difference is outweighed by the advantage of utilizing a locally produced food, if the total cost from production at the farm, through cost to national budget, to cost to consumer is considered. The advantage of being able to grow the food in a backyard or small farm is considered for the rural population. We conclude that the traditional banana porridge should be acceptable and economically the use of indigenous foodstuff is desirable (Summary)

The nutritional significance of root and tuber crop development as staples in the Caribbean community

The competition between cereals and root crops as CARICOM staples is described. The move to substitute locally grown food for imported wheat is shown to favor root crop development in the region. Against this background, traditional nutrition-promoted objections to wheat substitution by root crops are examined. Evidence is cited to show the essential adequacy of protein in root crops, except platain and cassava and for all humans except perhaps some infants. The low protein in cassava and plantain, it is proposed, can be easily overcome in the process of local root crop development. Finally, it is argued that there exists the potential to obtain cheap calories from root crops. This and the generation of economic activity among small farmers, concomitant with root crop development, are seen as possible indicators of good nutrition for the region in the future

Nutrient and bacterial contents of infants' bottle feeds

There is indirect evidence that infants' bottle feeds in Jamaica may be overdialuted. Infantile gastroenteritis is frequent and it has been suggested that a casual factor may be the inadequate sterilisation of bottles. The aim of ths study was to determine the nutrient contents of bottle feeds of Kingston infants aged 6-23 months and to assess the extent of bacterial contamination. The feeds analysed were either milk based or porridges. 151 samples were collected from three clinics and analysed for (1) protein, by micro-Kjeldahl method; (2) energy by comb calorimetry and (3) sodium and potassium by flame photometry. 101 samples were analyses for coliform bacterial contamination by use of Oxoid dip slides. The majority of the samples had protein contents which were within the normal range. The total solids and energy contents of the milk feeds were frequently high because of sugar added in preparation but the energy and solid contents of porridges were low. The milk feeds had normal sodium and low potassium concentrations, but porridges had high sodium concentrations due to addition of salt during preparation. 64 percent of the samples were highly contaminated by coliform baceria, although the majority of mothers reported having adequate facilities for proper feed preparation and sterilisation. It could be concluded that most mothers who attend child welfare clinics are preparing milk formulae with the correct protein content but with high energy content, porridges which are too dilute and have too much salt added, and bottle feeds are generally not sterile (Summary)

Nutritional considerations concerning in the staple foods of the English-speaking Caribbean

The staple foods of importance to the English-speaking Caribbean are wheat, starchy fruits, roots and tubers, and to some extent sugar. Their nutritional implications and their contributions to the diet are discussed. Cereals provide more energy and protein per unit weight as purchased than do other staple foods. They also provide important proportions of total average dietary energy and protein. Wheat, the major cereal, is wholly imported and price rises over the past few years have strained national economies. The feasibility of local production of staple foods is discussed. Cereal/legume rotations provide greater energy and protein yields per acre per year than do starchy fruit or root crops under present varietal and agronomic conditions. Retail cost nutrient values for energy and protein are greater for cereals than for starchy fruits, roots and tubers. The conclusion is drawn that, to overcome malnutrition and to keep pace with population growth, more dietary energy needs to become available to the region without reduction in dietary quality. Questions are asked as to the feasibility of rational; import substitutions and improved local yields providing both cheap food to the consumers and good returns to the farmers. (AU)

Traditional amino acid reinforcement

In the last few decades, the field of public health has seen the development of many monovalent, simplicist, would-be universal approaches to complex problems, whose etiology varies from region to region-most have been unsuccessful. Current planners plainly appreciate the need for programs tailored to local circumstances and possibilities (including the young child population both in rural and urban areas), and the need for many channelled approaches in every situation. In addition to the amino acid fortification of foods and the development of new protein processed foods by modern technology, opportunities for amino acid reinforcement by combinations of traditional foods must receive major emphasis in any community nutrition program, especially for home produced weaning foods. To lay sole emphasis on one or other of these approaches is plainly imbalanced-a combination of approaches are vitally needed. They are not in competition, but mutually reinforcing. (Summary)