[Analysis of diet structure of Kashin-beck disease area in Chamdo-Lhorong of Tibet in 2021].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the dietary structure between healthy people and patients in KBD area of Chamdo-Lhorong of Tibet. METHODS: A case-control study design was used, retrospectively select patients who had completed screening and registered in the national Kashin-Beck Disease surveillance system in 2021 in Luolong County, Qamdo, Tibet as the source population of the case group, and randomly selected people who had not been screened for Kashin-Beck disease in the same county as the control group. The self-made diet questionnaire was used to record the types of food consumption, frequency of food intake, basic information of the respondents, family size and other basic information in the past year by one-on-one interview. RESULTS: The staple food with the highest response among the patients(97.33%) was rice(rice/rice noodle), and the highest response among the healthy people(90%) was non-wheat products, non-fried pasta(bread/steamed bun/noodles/dumplings), except instant noodles.78.7% of patients chose not to eat local wheat(Tibetan noodles), and the number of non-patients who chose to eat non-local wheat(Tibetan noodles) 3-4 times a week was significantly higher than that of patients. The meat and meat products with the highest response in both patients(93.33%) and healthy people(90%) was yak meat(local). The control group also chose to consume beef(non-local/lamb/mutton/other non-processed meat), poultry and livestock offal, fish(all seawater and freshwater fish), shrimp and crabs or other seafood, and their consumption rate and intake frequency were significantly higher than those of the case group. The consumption rate and frequency of tomato, onion and garlic(garlic shoots/leek/onion/onion) and fresh eggs(egg/duck egg/quail egg/goose egg) in control group were significantly higher than those in case group. There was no significant difference in consumption rate and frequency of fruits, milk and dairy products between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In addition to the local highland barley(zanba), most people also chose to purchase rice and flour, which changed the situation of single staple food in the past. However, compared with the healthy population in the disease area, the consumption rate and intake frequency of fish, shrimp and crabs, poultry and livestock viscera, eggs(fresh eggs) and vegetables(tomatoes, scallions, ginger and garlic) in KBD patients were significantly lower, the selection of meat varieties is single, mainly local yak meat, and the overall dietary structure still presents the risk of single type and unbalanced diet.

[Cost-benefit analysis on the intervention of application iron-fortified soy sauce for anemia in Deqing 15-54 years women, Zhejiang].

OBJECTIVE: To make a cost-benefit analysis on anemia intervention with iron-fortified soy sauce in 15-54 years old women. METHODS: The study was conducted in Deqing county, Zhejiang province in 2012-2013. A total 585 women as sampling size were estimated with statistical model and randomly selected by probability proportionate to size sampling. Hemoglobin were measured before intervention and after 15 months. The cost of the intervention project were collected with manpower, communication and other invest. The benefit was estimated with profiling model. RESULTS: After the intervention, the anemia prevalence of sampled women decreased from 31.1% to 21.9%(P<0.01). The major cost of the project was 156 400 RMB, and total benefits result ing from projects were 1 448 485 RMB. The cost-benefit ratio of the project is 1∶9.49. If investing one yuan can produce economic benefits of nearly 9.49 yuan, therefore, the intervention projectis worth to be scaling up. Sensitivity analysis showed the result of this study was stable. CONCLUSION: The intervention can significantly reduce the prevalence of anemia in women, and reduce the economic burden of the diseases. .

Yingyangbao Reduced Anemia among Infants and Young Children Aged 6-23 Months When Delivered through a Large-Scale Nutrition Improvement Program for Children in Poor Areas in China from 2015 to 2020.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of intervention with Yingyangbao (YYB) on hemoglobin (Hb) and anemia status among infants and young children (IYC) aged 6-23 months (mo) through a large-scale Nutrition Improvement Program for Children in Poor Areas (NIPCPA) in China from 2015 to 2020. Five rounds of cross-sectional surveys were conducted using a stratified and multi-stage probability proportional to size sampling of IYC in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Multivariable regression analyses were fitted to determine the effectiveness of the YYB intervention on Hb and anemia, respectively. A total of 36,325, 40,027, 43,831, 44,375 and 46,050 IYC aged 6-23 mo were included, and the prevalence of anemia was 29.7%, 26.9%, 24.1%, 21.2% and 18.1% in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Compared with the results in 2015, the Hb concentrations significantly improved and anemia prevalence significantly decreased among IYC in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 (p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that higher YYB consumption was significantly associated with the increment in Hb concentration and reduction in anemia stratified by age group (p < 0.001). The most significant increment in Hb concentration of 2.189 mg/L and the most significant reduction in odds of anemia were observed among IYC aged 12-17 mo who consumed 270 to 359 sachets of YYB (OR: 0.671; 95% CI: 0.627, 0.719; p < 0.001). This study suggests that YYB intervention is a successful public health strategy for reducing the risk of anemia among IYC when delivered through a large-scale NIPCPA in China. It is necessary to continue to advance the program and increase the adherence of YYB.

Yingyangbao Intervention Was Associated with the Improvement of Body Growth and Nutrition Status of Infants and Young Children in Poor Rural Areas of China: The Annual Comparison from 2012 to 2020.

Yingyangbao (YYB) is a soy-based micronutrient-fortified powder used in the Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas of China. After the baseline study in 2012, YYB intervention gradually spread to 21 provinces in China. From 2015 to 2020, a secular trend study was carried out to evaluate the body growth and nutritional status of 6-23-month-old infants and young children (IYC) under YYB intervention. The aim of this research was to investigate whether YYB intervention was associated with the improvement of body growth and development in large populations from broad areas with national and multi-year survey results. The anthropometric data collected in the baseline study and cross-sectional surveys were compared, and the correlation between YYB intake amount and body growth were analyzed. Compared with the results of the baseline study, the 6-23-month-old IYC under YYB intervention showed a significant increase in body weight, body length and Z scores since 2015, and the stunting rate decreased from 9.7% in 2012 to 5.3% in 2020. Significantly positive correlations were observed between the YYB intake amount and the body growth indicators. Therefore, YYB intervention was associated with the improvement of body growth and nutrition status of Chinese IYC. In the future, long-term and continuous efforts are still needed to further reveal the health benefits of YYB in depth.

Intervention Effect of a Soybean-Based Complementary Food Supplement on Anemic Infants in a Poor Rural Region in China: Evidence from Quasi-RCT.

The soybean-based Yingyang Bao complementary food supplement represents a special nutritional improvement method for anemic infants in many intervention projects across China, while its benefits lack rigorous evidence. Using a quasi-randomized controlled trial design, which adhered to randomization and control except for the blinding method, 248 anemic infants were divided randomly into an intervention group (128 cases received the Yingyang Bao intervention based on routine feeding) and a control group (120 cases only received routine feeding). Anthropometric indicators and 16 blood indicators were measured at baseline and 1 year after intervention. The levels of hemoglobin, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, homocysteine, retinol, vitamin D3, and soluble transferrin receptor and the height-age-Z score and weight-age-Z score of the intervention group were significantly improved after the intervention (p < 0.05). The homocysteine level improvement appeared to be moderately negatively correlated with the cobalamin level improvement (p < 0.05). The improvements of five indicators were significant correlated with the intervention duration (p < 0.05), and the corresponding three significant regression equations could predict the intervention effect and the intervention duration to a certain extent. This quasi-randomized controlled trial provided more convincing evidence that Yingyang Bao can effectively improve three kinds of malnutrition compared to previous research which only adopted self before and after comparison.

Effects of the Duration of Ying Yang Bao Consumption on Hemoglobin Concentration in Infants and Young Children in Less Developed Areas of China.

Ying Yang Bao (YYB) is conventionally prescribed as a nutritional supplement to infants and young children (IYC) in less developed areas of China. However, whether 18-month YYB consumption is reasonable needs assessment. This study examined the influence of the duration of YYB consumption on hemoglobin (Hb) levels and anemia prevalence. Data from the Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas of China in 2018-2019 were used. Questionnaires were used to collect information on basic characteristics, dietary status, and YYB consumption. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance confounders. Hb levels and anemia prevalence in IYC with different durations of YYB consumption were compared. After PSM, all covariates were well-balanced, and 1151 pairs of IYC were included in subsequent analyses. During the 1st-9th months of intervention, YYB effectively increased Hb levels and reduced anemia prevalence in the intervention group. During the 10th-18th months of intervention, Hb levels in the control group increased and anemia prevalence decreased, while Hb levels and anemia prevalence fluctuated in the intervention group. In conclusion, YYB was effective in improving nutritional status of infants, but had a limited effect in young children. Nutritional supplements with different quantities or nutrients should be considered for young children.

[Cost-benefit analysis of Ying Yang Bao (YYB) intervention in 6 to 23 months rural infants].

OBJECTIVE: To study on the cost-benefit from anemia and stunting reduction of Ying Yang Bao(YYB) intervention in 6 to 23 months rural infants in the six counties of Shanxi, Hubei and Yunnan provinces. METHODS: YYB was distributed to 6-23 months infants in 6 counties by YYB nutrition intervention project. The numbers of childhood recovered from stunting and anemia was collected by a designed project monitoring plan. The cost-benefit was analyzed with PROFILING model as a nutritional microeconomic tool. RESULTS: Total numbers of monitored infants was 10 672 while the total cost of YYB intervention was estimated 2.57 million RMB. From 2012 to 2020, the total benefit was 14.92 million RMB from recover of stunting and anemia by YYB project and the average cost-benefit ratio of 6 counties was 1∶5.8. Sensitivity analysis showed the result of this study was stable. CONCLUSION: The YYB nutrition intervention for infants aged 6-23 months in the six counties of Shanxi, Hubei and Yunnan provinces showed a high cost-benefit ratio.

Complementary Feeding and Malnutrition among Infants and Young Children Aged 6-23 Months in Rural Areas of China.

This study investigated the nutrition and complementary feeding (CF) of infants and young children (IYC) aged 6-23 months in rural areas of China in 2018 and explored the relationship between CF and nutritional status. We measured the length and weight, calculated the z-scores, and detected micronutrients in the hair. The status of CF was obtained from the respondents by a 24-h dietary recall. IYC were classified into clusters using a two-step cluster analysis. The CF and nutritional status of each cluster were analyzed and compared. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and overweight in the IYC in rural Chinese areas was 7.1%, 3.0%, and 3.7%, respectively. The median levels of Ca, Fe, and Zn in hair were 550.10 µg/g, 62.94 µg/g, and 132.86 µg/g, respectively. The prevalence of meeting the requirements of minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was 68.9%, 77.9%, and 46.4%, respectively. IYC with a higher prevalence of MDD, MMF, and MAD were more inclined to maintain a healthy status. The prevalence of undernutrition and overweight of 6- to 23-month-old IYC in rural areas of China was low. However, lack of trace elements was evident, and MAD prevalence remained low.

Metabolomics and physiological analysis of the effect of calcium supplements on reducing bone loss in ovariectomized rats by increasing estradiol levels.

BACKGROUND: Data from the 2010-2012 Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey showed that the vast majority of postmenopausal women in China had dual deficiencies in calcium and estrogen. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify whether calcium supplementation alleviated bone loss caused by calcium restriction combined with estrogen deficiency in rats. METHODS: Forty-eight female rats aged 9 weeks were assigned to 4 groups and fed a low-calcium diet: sham-operated (SHAM-LC), ovariectomized (OVX-LC), and ovariectomized rats treated with 750 mg/kg (OVX-LC-M) or 2800 mg/kg CaCO3 (OVX-LC-H). CaCO3 or distilled water was administered orally for 13 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and histomorphometry of the femur, serum biochemical parameters, and serum metabolites were analyzed. RESULTS: The OVX-LC rats showed a significant increase in body weight and serum levels of lipid markers, a significant decrease in serum estradiol, calcium, phosphorus, and 25(OH)D levels, and deterioration of the femur. At 750 mg/kg and 2800 mg/kg, CaCO3 reduced the deterioration of trabecular bone and increased the trabecular area percentage (Tb.Ar %) and BMD of the femur. Serum estradiol levels increased in a dose-dependent manner after CaCO3 supplementation (p < 0.01). The administration of 2800 mg/kg CaCO3 decreased serum triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein levels (p < 0.05) and decreased the levels of the bone turnover markers osteocalcin, N-telopeptide of type I collagen and ß-crosslaps. The results of the metabolomics analysis showed that the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was closely related to calcium supplementation, and more DG (44:6 n3), LysoPC (22:2) and PE (P-34:3) and less Cer (d43:0) and PE-NMe2 (46:3) were produced. CONCLUSIONS: The results clearly indicated that calcium supplementation was beneficial for decreasing bone loss in OVX-LC rats. The present study is the first to show that calcium supplementation increased the estradiol content in OVX-LC rats, and the effect of calcium on bone loss may be partially attributed to the increase in the estrogen level that subsequently induced the changes in metabolite levels, eventually increasing the bone mineral density to a relatively higher level to reduce bone deterioration.

[Effect of Yingyangbao intervention in 6 to 23 months infants in six counties from Shanxi, Hubei and Yunnan Provinces].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Yingyangbao(YYB) intervention in 6-23 months infants in six poor counties from Shanxi, Hubei and Yunnan Provinces. METHODS: Probability proportionate to size sampling method was used to extract townships and villages, and random isometric sampling was used to select monitored infants. A baseline survey was completed in 2012. Yingyangbao was delivered to all the infants in the counties through a registration system started in 2013 and then the delivering has been continuously conducted to the infants according to their age. The cross sectional sampled infants were monitored and evaluated of the effect in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Using synthetic clustering grouping method, the infants were divided into quasi-control group(YYB-NG), YYB intervention group(YYB-FG)for comparative analysis to eliminate the effect of YYB intervention. Multiple linear regression analysis were used to establish the dose-effect relationship between YYB intervention, other factors and main nutrition indices. RESULTS: A total of 4809 individuals were included in this study, among which data of 2273 individuals were included in the YYB-NG and 2536 data were included in the YYB-FG. The body length of YYB-FG and YYB-NG was 77.6 cm and 75.9 cm, respectively. Stunting rates of YYB-FG and YYB-NG were 6. 8% and 10. 3%, respectively. Hb levels and anemia rates of YYB-FG and YYB-NG were 121. 3 g/L, 117. 1 g/L and 21. 2%, 32. 1% respectively, with statistically significant difference(P& lt; 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in body weight between the groups. Multiple linear regression showed that YYB intervention has a significant quantitative relationship with body length, Hb, HAZ. The regression also implied that the influencing factor including month-age, gender, birth-height, birth-weight, minimum dietary diversity, caregiver educational background have a significant relationship with nutrition improvement. CONCLUSION: YYB intervention can effectively improve the body length, Hb and HAZ, while reduce stunting rate and anemia rate of IYC in the intervention area.

Relationship between consumption of raw garlic and handgrip strength in a large-scale adult population.

BACKGROUND: Garlic-derived organosulfur compounds have numerous potential benefits (e.g. antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects) on human health. Although these functions might be related to the onset and progression of muscle strength decline, no studies have explored the relationship between garlic consumption and muscle strength in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether raw garlic consumption is related to handgrip strength in a large-scale adult population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study (n = 28,958) was performed in Tianjin, China. Frequency of raw garlic consumption was assessed using a valid self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Analysis of covariance and multiple logistic regression were used to evaluate the relationship between raw garlic consumption and handgrip strength. RESULTS: In males, after adjusted potential confounding factors, the least square means (95% confidence intervals) of handgrip strength across raw garlic consumption categories were 42.5 (40.2-44.9) for almost never; 43.0 (40.7-45.5) for <1 time/week; 43.4 (41.0-45.8) for 1 time/week; and 43.8 (41.5-46.3) for ≥2-3 times/week (P for trend <0.0001). The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of low handgrip strength (<20th percentile of handgrip strength) across the categories of raw garlic consumption in males were 1.00, 0.86 (0.76, 0.98), 0.76 (0.67, 0.87), and 0.66 (0.58, 0.74) (P for trend <0.0001). Similar results were also observed in females. CONCLUSIONS: The study firstly revealed a positive correlation between raw garlic consumption and handgrip strength in both males and females. Further studies are needed to explore the casual relationship.

Prevalence and causes of anaemia in children aged 6-23 months in rural Qinghai, China: findings from a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current situation of anaemia among children aged 6-23 months in a rural county in China, and to explore the influencing factors and the main causes of anaemia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Huzhu County in Qinghai Province, China PARTICIPANTS: We selected 38 sampled villages using Proportional to Population Size sampling method. We obtained the name list of children aged 6-23 months in each sampled village and planned to survey all the eligible children aged 6-23 months and their caregivers. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: The prevalence of anaemia, the influencing factors of anaemia, the laboratory tests for biological causes of anaemia, including serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, folic acid, homocysteine and vitamin B12. RESULTS: A total of 754 children aged 6-23 months and their caregivers were surveyed, and 183 anaemic children aged 12-23 months were collected venous blood sample. The anaemia prevalence of children aged 6-23 months in Huzhu County was 59.1%. Children of younger age (OR=0.968, 95% CI 0.940 to 0.998), Tibetan nationality (OR=3.123, 95% CI 1.473 to 6.623) and not introducing meat (OR=0.698, 95% CI 0.499 to 0.976) were more likely to be anaemic. More than 80% of children with anaemia were due to iron deficiency (ID), and 20.2% of them had both iron and folic acid deficiencies. CONCLUSIONS: The anaemia prevalence of children aged 6-23 months in Huzhu County was high and children of younger age, Tibetan nationality and not introducing meat were more likely to be anaemic. The main cause of anaemia was nutritional anaemia, with the vast majority being ID. Interventions of feeding counselling and nutrients supplements are appropriate and should be further strengthened. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTRPRC12002444.

[Improved effect of comprehensive nutritional intervention of whole covering for Kazak's pregnant women, lactating women and infants in Altay farming and stockbreeding region].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of nutritional intervention for Kazak's pregnant women, lactating women and infants in farming and stockbreeding region of Jeminay County, Altay City. METHODS: 24 h record method was conducted to implement dietary survey, and results were used to analyze dietary structure and nutrient intake level of pregnant women, lactating women and infants. Pregnant women, lactating women and infants over 6 months were intervened with iron fortified soy sauce nutrients supplement and Yingyangbao(YYB) for 2. 4 years. Hemoglobin was detected for pregnant women, lactating women and infants by using HemoCue analyzer. RESULTS: The nutrient intakes of the pregnant women, lactating women and infants were averagely lower than that of the recommended levels. In these infants who received breast feeding, the least acceptability diet quality rate was 42. 1%, and in other infants who didn't receive breast feeding, the rate was 25%. After intervention, anemia prevalence of pregnant women, lactating women and infants were significantly reduced compared with the base line levels at 2 survey time points(2014:pregnant women χ~2=26. 27, lactating women χ~2=18. 06, infants χ~2=44. 46, 2015:pregnant women χ~2=35. 62, lactating women χ~2=25. 05, infants χ~2=39. 61;all P<0. 001). CONCLUSION: The nutrition intervention of whole covering could improve nutrition status of Kazak's pregnant women, lactating women and infants.

Supplementing fortified soybean powder reduced anemia in infants and young children aged 6-24 months.

Ying Yang Bao (YYB), a soybean powder-based complementary food supplement, has been widely used in infants and young children (IYC) for nutrition improvement in poor rural regions in China. This study aims to assess the nutritional effect of YYB on anemia and growth status of IYC between the ages of 6 and 24 months using systematic review and meta-analysis. In this meta-analysis, structured electronic searches were conducted using Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Internet datasets. Inclusion criterion, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Data-including hemoglobin concentration; anemia rate; and z scores of height for age, weight for age, and weight for height-were extracted and then analyzed using RevMan 5 software. Seventeen studies on YYB intervention, which showed significantly higher hemoglobin concentration (P < .01) and lower anemia rate (P < .01) in the intervention group compared to the control group, were included. In before-after studies, the prevalence of stunting (P < .01), underweight (P < .01), and wasting (P < .01) significantly decreased, whereas the z scores of weight for height increased (P < .01). However, no significant effect was observed on the z scores of height for age and weight for age. The hemoglobin concentration was higher after using YYB, and the prevalence of anemia, stunting, underweight, and wasting of infants and young children decreased in poor rural regions in China. Based on this meta-analysis, it appears that more randomized controlled trials for YYB intervention should be conducted and the mechanisms explored in future research.

The effect of folic acid deficiency on FGF pathway via Brachyury regulation in neural tube defects.

Folate deficiency in early development leads to disturbance in multiple processes, including neurogenesis during which fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway is one of the crucial pathways. Whether folic acid (FA) directly affects FGF pathways to influence neurodevelopment and the possible mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we presented evidence that in human FA-insufficient encephalocele, the FGF pathway was interfered. Furthermore, in Brachyury knockout mice devoid of such T-box transcription factors regulating embryonic neuromesodermal bipotency and a key component of FGF pathway, change in expression of Brachyury downstream targets, activator Fgf8 and suppressor dual specificity phosphatase 6 was detected, along with the reduction in expression of other key FGF pathway genes. By using a FA-deficient cell model, we further demonstrated that decrease in Brachyury expression was through alteration in hypermethylation at the Brachyury promoter region under FA deficiency conditions, and suppression of Brachyury promoted the inactivation of the FGF pathway. Correspondingly, FA supplementation partially reverses the effects seen in FA-deficient embryoid bodies. Lastly, in mice with maternal folate-deficient diets, aberrant FGF pathway activity was found in fetal brain dysplasia. Taken together, our findings highlight the effect of FA on FGF pathways during neurogenesis, and the mechanism may be due to the low expression of Brachyury gene via hypermethylation under FA-insufficient conditions.-Chang, S., Lu, X., Wang, S., Wang, Z., Huo, J., Huang, J., Shangguan, S., Li, S., Zou, J., Bao, Y., Guo, J., Wang, F., Niu, B., Zhang, T., Qiu, Z., Wu, J., Wang, L. The effect of folic acid deficiency on FGF pathway via Brachyury regulation in neural tube defects.

[Meta-analysis on relationship between the Chinese maternal MTHFR gene polymorphism(C677T) and neural tube defects in offspring].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between maternal MTHFR gene polymorphism( C677T) and neural tube defects in offspring through Meta-analysis in China. METHODS: CNKI, Pub Med, Web of Science, Chinese Wan Fang Data databases, CBM, VIP for published articles were searched from the time of Database establishment to July 5 th 2017. The search strategy was based on combinations of the English and/or Chinese keywords, 'MTHFR'and 'folate pathway'and 'polymorphism'or 'SNP'and'NTDs or Neural Tube Defects'. References of reviews and retrieved studies were also scanned. All the case-control studies about MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism and susceptibility of neural tube defect were collected, which were fulfilled the followinginclusion criteria: case-control study and cohort study design, presentation of data necessary for calculating odds ratios( ORs). Data were extracted from studies and analyzed by Rev Man 5. 3 software. RESULTS: A total of 13 papers were selected, including1500 patients and 1654 controls. Meta-analysis result showed that the combined odds ratio values of neural tube defect for offspring with maternal TT, TT + CT and T allele genotypes were 1. 94, 1. 65 and 1. 39, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present Meta-analysis suggests that MTHFR C677T is significantly associated with maternal risk for NTDs in the Chinese population, supplemental folic acid supplementation based on MTHFR polymorphisms will be an important means to further reduce the birth defects of newborns.

Ying Yang Bao: Improving Complementary Feeding for Chinese Infants in Poor Regions.

Ying Yang Bao (YYB), a complementary food supplement, has helped to rapidly improve the nutrition status of infants and young children in poor rural regions in China. The first YYB study was performed in 2001 by the International Life Sciences Institute, the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Nestlé. In 2008, the establishment of national standards for complementary food supplements stimulated implementation of about 15 nutrition intervention projects in poor rural counties in which YYB was applied to infants and young children as home fortification for complementary feeding. Data were accumulated in different studies and showed that YYB enhanced the growth of infants with respect to both anthropometry and cognition, and decreased anemia prevalence significantly in infants aged 6-24 months. The Chinese government has launched a project named Improving Children's Nutrition in Poor Rural Regions in 2012. The project has covered more than 4 million infants aged 6-24 months in 341 counties in 21 provinces in western and middle regions by the end of 2015. This nutrition intervention in early life is rather an opportunity for a better later life. The YYB program in China might present an example for developing countries aiming to improve nutrition in early life.

[Evaluation of iron fortified soy sauce on changes of anemia prevalence in 2004-2013].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of iron fortified soy sauce( IFSS) on the decrease of anemia prevalence in Chinese population in 2004- 2013. METHODS: Meta analysis was used to analyze the effect of IFSS on anemia through published randomcontrol studies on the population intervention with IFSS. Integrated with other data from IFSS statistic on IFSS production and consumption, the recovered population from IFSS was identified and anemia decrease determined, therefore, IFSS contribution to anemia change could be estimated. RESULTS: By Meta analysis, the anemia rate of the population consumed IFSS was 27% compared with the anemia rate of the population non-consumed IFSS. In the past 10 years, IFSS had covered more than 186 millions population with effect validity time. A total of 28. 49 millions anemic population recovered from anemia. To recover one anemic with IFSS, the cost was 0. 12 RMB. CONCLUSION: IFSS has showed effect on the decline of anemia prevalence in last decade, 23. 2% of the decrease was estimated owe to IFSS project, but there are unidentified factors which may bring bias to the result.

Altered GNAS imprinting due to folic acid deficiency contributes to poor embryo development and may lead to neural tube defects.

Disturbed epigenetic modifications have been linked to the pathogenesis of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) in those with folate deficiency during pregnancy. However, evidence is lacking to delineate the critical region in epigenome regulated by parental folic acid and mechanisms by which folate deficiency affects normal embryogenesis. Our data from clinical samples revealed the presence of aberrant DNA methylation in GNAS imprinting cluster in NTD samples with low folate concentrations. Results from mouse models indicated that the establishment of GNAS imprinting was influenced by both maternal and paternal folate-deficient diets. Such aberrant GNAS imprinting was present prior to the gametogenesis period. Imprinting in Exon1A/GNAS gDMR was abolished in both spermatozoa and oocytes upon treating with a parental folate-deficient diet (3.6% in spermatozoa, 9.8% in oocytes). Interestingly, loss of imprinting in the GNAS gene cluster altered chromatin structure to an overwhelmingly open structure (58.48% in the folate-free medium group vs. 39.51% in the folate-normal medium group; P < 0.05), and led to a disturbed expression of genes in this region. Furthermore, an elevated cyclic AMP levels was observed in folate acid deficiency group. Our results imply that GNAS imprinting plays major roles in folic acid metabolism regulation during embryogenesis. Aberrant GNAS imprinting is an attribute to NTDs, providing a new perspective for explaining the molecular mechanisms by which folate supplementation in human pregnancy provides protection from NTDs.

[Effects of the iron fortified soy sauce on improving students' anemia in boarding schools].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of iron fortified soy sauce on improving the anemia of boarding school students. METHODS: A total of 3029 students of the boarding schools in the 27 provinces in China including 1576 boys and 1453 girls were treat with the iron-fortified soy sauce for 12 months. The concentration of hemoglobin was detected before and after intervention. The statistical analysis was conducted to analyze the anemia rate and the hemoglobin concentration in boarding school students. RESULTS: After the intervention, the average hemoglobin of students were increased from 142.1 g/L to 146.5 g/L compared to the baseline. The boys average haemoglobin concentration increased 6.7 g/L, girls average haemoglobin concentration increased 1.9 g/L. They were significantly higher than those of the baseline (P < 0.001 ). The total anemia prevalence were significantly difference than the baseline (P < 0.001). Anemia among both boys and girls fell to 1.1% and 4.7% respectively. CONCLUSION: Iron-fortified soy sauce could be effective for the improvement the hemoglobin level of boarding school students, reduce anemia prevalence of students significantly.