Life cycle assessment of rice bran oil production: a case study in China.

Environmental problems caused by the food processing industry have always been one of the concerns for the public. Herein, for the first time, a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was employed to evaluate the environmental impact of rice bran oil production. Four subsystems, namely, transportation of the raw rice bran to oil factory, crude oil extraction, oil refining, and oil storage, were established. The product sustainability software GaBi and the method CML 2001-Jan. 2016 were used to calculate and analyze the environmental burdens at each stage of the rice bran oil production chain. The results show the oil refining stage had the greatest environmental impact, followed by the oil extraction stage. High demands for coal and electricity make a critical difference in generating vast majority of environmental impacts. Modifying the electricity source and replacing traditional fuels with cleaner ones will do bring benefits to the sustainable development of the industry.

The Patterns of Complementary Feeding and Growth among 12 to 23 Month-Old Children in China.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the characteristics of dietary patterns among children aged 12 to 23 months and discusses the relationship between dietary patterns and the growth of children. METHOD: Cross-sectional data were selected from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for 0 to 18 year-old children in China ( n = 2,449) to describe the patterns of complementary feeding and the growth of children. Cluster analysis was used to analyze complementary feeding patterns, and an analysis of variance and Bonferroni test were conducted to analyze the relationship between Z scores and complementary feeding patterns. RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were identified among the children via cluster analysis. In Pattern 4 ( n = 104, 4.2%), children still consumed milk as their staple food. They displayed the lowest grain, fruit, vegetable, egg, and flesh foods consumption, a medium frequency of breast milk consumption, and a high frequency of dairy product consumption. Pattern 4 had the lowest length-for-age Z scores and weight-for-age Z scores, with -0.10 ± 1.34 and 0.24 ± 1.00, respectively ( F = 7.940, P < 0.001; F = 5.317, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although China is undergoing rapid urbanization and economic development, there is still a phenomenon of insufficient intake of protein-rich foods and dairy-based dietary patterns at the stage of complementary food introduced among children aged 12 to 23 months.

[Estimating and forecasting of the minimum consumption expenditure when meet with the needed nutrients in 8 provinces in China].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to estimate and forecast the minimum consumption expenditure on food of 8 provinces using linear programming model. METHODS: Analysis was based on the food data of 2000 of the China Health and Nutrition Survey. The linear programming model's target population was 18 - 49 years old adult with different physical activity level. The mathematical model was established and functioned by GAMS. RESULTS: It was not a high consumption expenditure on food of 8 provinces when meet with the 13 nutrients and the required amount of food, even in the year of well-to-do. CONCLUSION: We should improve the household' s dietary quality by following the viewpoint of lowest cost but enough nutrients in different income level. The study suggested that we should tell the residents about the lowest cost when we engage nutrition education.

[Effect of malnutrition on the survival of children and productivity in 9 provinces of China].

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the effects of malnutrition on the child survival and economic productivity in 9 provinces by using a new method. METHODS: PROFILES was used to quantify the function consequences of malnutrition in terms of child survival and productivity. RESULTS: As estimated, without improvement, 304000 children will die due to underweight between 2001 and 2010 in 9 provinces, reducing underweight prevalence from 12.6% to 9.5% could save 38000 lives. If current stunting level remained unchanged over next 10 years in 9 provinces, the net present value of future productivity lost would be 58.4 billion, productivity gain due to reduction in child stunting reduced by 25% over next 10 years would gain worth 7.9 billion. CONCLUSION: Children's malnutrition plays a negative role in child survival, but also has huge economic lost in 9 provinces. It's recommendable to try or develop PROFILES model in nutrition study.

Effects of malnutrition on economic productivity in China as estimated by PROFILES.

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the effects of malnutrition on economic productivity in China. METHODS: PROFILES was used to quantify the function consequences of malnutrition in term of protein energy malnutrition, iron deficiency and iodine deficiency. RESULTS: Productivity gained due to improved iodine nutrition. The reduction in the TGR in 1992 to 2001 increased the net present value of further economic productivity by yen 142 billion. Reduction of the TGR rate to 5% over next 10 years would result in future productivity gains with value of yen 40 billion. Productivity gain due to reductions in child stunting would result in future economic productivity gains with the value of yen 101 billion. Reducing stunting further over the next 10 years would gain yen 20 billion. Productivity gain due to reduction of iron deficiency anemia reduced by 30% over the next 10 years would gain worth yen 107 billion and if childhood anemia reduced by 30% over next 10 years would gain yen 348 billion. CONCLUSION: These interventions have huge economic payoff. That is likely to exceed their costs many times over.