Exploring food system resilience to the global polycrisis in six Asian countries.

The world is currently in the midst of a global food crisis brought about and exacerbated by a series of mutually reinforcing shocks to food systems This study investigated the resilience of food systems in six Asian countries (Bangladesh, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka) amidst the global 'polycrisis' caused by COVID-19, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change. Trend analyses were performed for 19 indicators sourced from global databases and World Food Programme national data, representing the four domains of food system resilience: exposure to shocks; resilience capacities and agro- and food diversity, resilience responses and strategies; and long-term resilience outcomes. The analysis revealed that all six countries experienced the effects of the 'polycrisis', leading to diverse impacts on exchange rates, with Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Lao PDR facing significant currency depreciation. While most countries increased crop production and decreased food imports during the crisis, government economic support during the pandemic varied widely. Resilience outcomes, including national food price inflation and the proportion of populations facing food insecurity, witnessed upward variations. Overall, countries with higher resilience capacities at the start of the 'polycrisis' showed less severe long-term resilience outcomes. Our findings highlight the varied challenges and resilience capacities across each country, influenced by a complex interplay of economic, political, agricultural, and food affordability factors crucial for determining long-term resilience in their food systems. Recommendations for future research include focusing on resilience assessment in food systems, integrating climate change adaptation measures, and developing early intervention strategies.

Women in Selected Communities of Punjab, India Have a High Prevalence of Iron, Zinc, Vitamin B12, and Folate Deficiencies: Implications for a Multiply-Fortified Salt Intervention.

Dietary intake and biomarkers of micronutrient status of 100 non-pregnant women of reproductive age (NPWRA) were assessed to determine optimal levels of iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and folic acid to include in multiply-fortified salt (MFS) that will be evaluated in an upcoming trial. Weighed food records were obtained from participants to measure intake of micronutrients and discretionary salt, and to assess adequacy using Indian Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs). Statistical modeling was used to determine optimal fortification levels to reduce inadequate micronutrient intake while limiting intake above the upper limit. Fasting blood samples were obtained to assess iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and folate status. In usual diets, inadequate intake of iron (46%), zinc (95%), vitamin B12 (83%), and folate (36%) was high. Mean intake of discretionary salt was 4.7 g/day. Prevalence estimates of anemia (37%), iron deficiency (67%), zinc deficiency (34%), vitamin B12 insufficiency (37%), and folate insufficiency (70%) were also high. Simulating the addition of optimized MFS to usual diets resulted in percentage point (pp) reductions in inadequate intake by 29 pp for iron, 76 pp for zinc, 81 pp for vitamin B12, and 36 pp for folate. MFS holds potential to reduce the burden of micronutrient deficiencies in this setting.

Estimating the cost and cost-effectiveness of adding zinc to, and improving the performance of, Burkina Faso's mandatory wheat flour fortification programme.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that promotes normal growth, development and immune function. In the context of persistent dietary zinc inadequacies, large-scale food fortification can help fill the gap between intake and requirements. Burkina Faso mandates wheat flour fortification with iron and folic acid. We used activity-based cost modelling to estimate the cost of adding zinc to the country's wheat flour fortification standard assuming (1) no change in compliance with the national standard, and (2) a substantial improvement in compliance. We used household food consumption data to model effective coverage, that is, the number of women of reproductive age (WRA) predicted to achieve adequate zinc density (zinc intake/1000 kcal) with the addition of fortification to diets. Without interventions, the prevalence of inadequate dietary zinc density was ~35.5%. With no change in compliance, the annual average incremental cost of adding zinc to fortified wheat flour was $10,347, which would effectively cover <1% of WRA at an incremental cost of ~$0.54/WRA effectively covered. Improving compliance added ~$300,000/year to the cost of the fortification programme without zinc; including zinc added another ~$78,000/year but only reduced inadequate intake among WRA by 3.6% at an incremental cost of ~$0.45/WRA effectively covered. Although the incremental cost of adding zinc to wheat flour is low ($0.01/wheat flour consumer/year), given low levels of wheat flour consumption, zinc fortification of wheat flour alone contributes marginally to, but will not fully close, the dietary zinc gap. Future research should explore potential contributions of zinc to a broader set of delivery vehicles.

Quintuply-fortified salt for the improvement of micronutrient status among women of reproductive age and preschool-aged children in Punjab, India: protocol for a randomized, controlled, community-based trial.

BACKGROUND: Multiple micronutrient (MN) deficiencies remain highly prevalent among women of reproductive age (WRA) and preschool-aged children (PSC) in many areas within India. Salt is an attractive vehicle for MN fortification in this context, as it is universally consumed in fairly consistent amounts and coverage of iodized salt (IS) is 94%. The overall objective of this trial is to evaluate the nutritional impact of quintuply-fortified salt with iron in the form of encapsulated ferrous fumarate, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iodine (eFF-Q5S) vs. quintuply-fortified salt with iron in the form of ferric pyrophosphate plus EDTA, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iodine (FePP-Q5S) vs. IS for the improvement of MN status among non-pregnant WRA and PSC. METHODS: The study is a community-based, randomized, controlled trial that will be conducted in Punjab, India. 780 non-pregnant WRA 18-49 years old and 468 PSC 12-59 months old will be enrolled and assigned to one of three intervention groups. Salt will be provided to participants monthly for 12 months. Primary outcomes include changes in mean concentration of biomarkers of iron, zinc, vitamin B12, folate and iodine. Secondary outcomes include changes in the composition of the gut microbiome, and discretionary salt intake of PSC. DISCUSSION: If proven efficacious, multiply-fortified salt (MFS) has the potential to drastically reduce the burden of MN deficiencies in India, and around the world. Although effectiveness research will be needed to examine the impact of MFS under programmatic conditions, salt fortification will piggy-back on existing platforms to produce IS and doubly-fortified salt (DFS), making it possible to scale-up the intervention quickly. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05166980; date of registration: December 22, 2021. Clinical Trials Registry-India: CTRI/2022/040332 and CTRI/2022/02/040333; date of registration: February 15, 2022.

Barriers to and Enablers of the Inclusion of Micronutrient Biomarkers in National Surveys and Surveillance Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Including biomarkers of micronutrient status in existing or planned national surveys or surveillance systems is a critical step in improving capacity to promote, design, monitor, and evaluate micronutrient policies and programs. We aimed to identify the barriers to and enablers of the inclusion of micronutrient biomarker assessment in national surveys and surveillance systems, to identify the main challenges faced during the survey process, and to review experiences using existing platforms for micronutrient surveys. We conducted a series of key informant interviews with in-country and external representatives from six countries where national-level data on micronutrient status were collected in the past 5 years: Cambodia, Pakistan, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, and Uzbekistan. Micronutrients associated with specific public health programs were always prioritized for inclusion in the survey. If funding, time, and/or logistics allowed, other considered micronutrients were also included. The most important and frequently reported barrier to inclusion of a more comprehensive panel of micronutrient biomarkers was inadequate funding to cover the laboratory analysis cost for all micronutrients considered at the planning stage. Government support and commitment was stressed as the most important enabling factor by all key informants. Advocacy for funding for micronutrient status assessment is needed.

Enablers and Barriers of Zinc Fortification; Experience from 10 Low- and Middle-Income Countries with Mandatory Large-Scale Food Fortification.

Adequate zinc nutrition is important for child growth, neurodevelopment, immune function, and normal pregnancy outcomes. Seventeen percent of the global population is estimated to be at risk for inadequate zinc intake. However, zinc is not included in the fortification standards of several low- and middle-income countries with mandatory fortification programs, despite data suggesting a zinc deficiency public health problem. To guide policy decisions, we investigated the factors enabling and impeding the inclusion of zinc as a fortificant by conducting in-depth interviews with 17 key informants from 10 countries. Findings revealed the decision to include zinc was influenced by guidance from international development partners and enabled by the assessment of zinc deficiency, mandatory regional food fortification standards which included zinc, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for zinc fortification, and the low cost of zinc compound commonly used. Barriers included the absence of zinc from regional fortification standards, limited available data on the efficacy and effectiveness of zinc fortification, and the absence of national objectives related to the prevention of zinc deficiency. To promote zinc fortification there is a need to put the prevention of zinc deficiency higher on the international nutrition agenda and to promote large-scale food fortification as a key deficiency mitigation strategy.

Effects of Foods Fortified with Zinc, Alone or Cofortified with Multiple Micronutrients, on Health and Functional Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Seventeen per cent of the world's population is estimated to be at risk of inadequate zinc intake, which could in part be addressed by zinc fortification of widely consumed foods. We conducted a review of efficacy and effectiveness studies to ascertain the effect of zinc fortification [postharvest fortification of an industrially produced food or beverage; alone or with multiple micronutrients (MMN)] on a range of health outcomes. Previous reviews have required that the effect of zinc be isolated; because zinc is always cofortified with MMN in existing fortification programs, we did not impose this condition. Outcomes assessed were zinc-related biomarkers (plasma or serum, hair or urine zinc concentrations, comet assay, plasma fatty acid concentrations, and the proportion of and total zinc absorbed in the intestine from the diet), child anthropometry, morbidity, mortality, cognition, plasma or serum iron and copper concentrations, and for observational studies, a change in consumption of the food vehicle. Fifty-nine studies were included in the review; 54 in meta-analyses, totaling 73 comparisons. Zinc fortification with and without MMN increased plasma zinc concentrations (efficacy, n = 27: 4.68 µg/dL; 95% CI: 2.62-6.75; effectiveness, n = 13: 6.28 µg/dL; 95% CI: 5.03-7.77 µg/dL) and reduced the prevalence of zinc deficiency (efficacy, n = 11: OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.96; effectiveness, n = 10: OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.31-0.64). There were statistically significant increases in child weight (efficacy, n = 11: 0.43 kg, 95% CI: 0.11-0.75 kg), improvements in short-term auditory memory (efficacy, n = 3: 0.32 point, 95% CI: 0.13-0.50 point), and decreased incidence of diarrhea (efficacy, n = 3: RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68-0.92) and fever (efficacy, n = 2: RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.97). However, these effects cannot be solely attributed to zinc. Our review found that zinc fortification with or without MMN reduced the prevalence of zinc deficiency and may provide health and functional benefits, including a reduced incidence of diarrhea.

Increasing the availability and utilization of reliable data on population micronutrient (MN) status globally: the MN Data Generation Initiative.

Micronutrient (MN) deficiencies can produce a broad array of adverse health and functional outcomes. Young, preschool children and women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries are most affected by these deficiencies, but the true magnitude of the problems and their related disease burdens remain uncertain because of the dearth of reliable biomarker information on population MN status. The reasons for this lack of information include a limited understanding by policy makers of the importance of MNs for human health and the usefulness of information on MN status for program planning and management; insufficient professional capacity to advocate for this information and design and implement related MN status surveys; high costs and logistical constraints involved in specimen collection, transport, storage, and laboratory analyses; poor access to adequately equipped and staffed laboratories to complete the analyses reliably; and inadequate capacity to interpret and apply this information for public health program design and evaluation. This report describes the current situation with regard to data availability, the reasons for the lack of relevant information, and the steps needed to correct this situation, including implementation of a multi-component MN Data Generation Initiative to advocate for critical data collection and provide related technical assistance, laboratory services, professional training, and financial support.

Setting research priorities on multiple micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy.

Prenatal micronutrient deficiencies are associated with negative maternal and birth outcomes. Multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) during pregnancy is a cost-effective intervention to reduce these adverse outcomes. However, important knowledge gaps remain in the implementation of MMS interventions. The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) methodology was applied to inform the direction of research and investments needed to support the implementation of MMS interventions for pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Following CHNRI methodology guidelines, a group of international experts in nutrition and maternal health provided and ranked the research questions that most urgently need to be resolved for prenatal MMS interventions to be successfully implemented. Seventy-three research questions were received, analyzed, and reorganized, resulting in 35 consolidated research questions. These were scored against four criteria, yielding a priority ranking where the top 10 research options focused on strategies to increase antenatal care attendance and MMS adherence, methods needed to identify populations more likely to benefit from MMS interventions and some discovery issues (e.g., potential benefit of extending MMS through lactation). This exercise prioritized 35 discrete research questions that merit serious consideration for the potential of MMS during pregnancy to be optimized in LMIC.

Vitamin B-12, folic acid, and growth in 6- to 30-month-old children: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Folate and vitamin B-12 are important for growth. Many children in low- and middle-income countries have inadequate intakes of these nutrients. METHODS: We undertook a randomized, placebo controlled double-blind trial in 1000 North Indian children, 6 to 35 months of age, providing twice the recommended daily allowance of folic acid and/or vitamin B-12, or placebo, daily for 6 months. By using a factorial design, we allocated children in a 1:1:1:1 ratio in blocks of 16. We measured the effect of giving vitamin B-12, folic acid, or the combination of both on linear and ponderal growth. We also identified predictors for growth in multiple linear regression models and effect modifiers for the effect of folic acid or vitamin B-12 supplementation on growth. RESULTS: The overall effect of either of the vitamins was significant only for weight; children who received vitamin B-12 increased their mean weight-for-age z scores by 0.07 (95% confidence interval: 0.01 to 0.13). Weight-for-age z scores and height-for-age z scores increased significantly after vitamin B-12 supplementation in wasted, underweight, and stunted children. These subgrouping variables significantly modified the effect of vitamin B-12 on growth. Vitamin B-12 status at baseline predicted linear and ponderal growth in children not receiving vitamin B-12 supplements but not in those who did (P-interaction < .001). CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence that poor vitamin B-12 status contributes to poor growth. We recommend studies with larger doses and longer follow-up to confirm our findings.

Folic acid and vitamin B-12 supplementation and common infections in 6-30-mo-old children in India: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Young children in low- and middle-income countries frequently have inadequate vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) status. Poor folate status is also common and is associated with increased diarrheal and respiratory morbidity. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to measure the effect of folic acid and/or vitamin B-12 administration on the incidence of diarrhea and acute lower respiratory tract infections. DESIGN: One thousand North Indian children (6-30 mo of age) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to receive 2 times the Recommended Dietary Allowance of folic acid and/or vitamin B-12 or placebo daily for 6 mo. Children were individually randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio in blocks of 16. Primary outcomes were the number of episodes of acute lower respiratory infections, diarrhea, and prolonged diarrhea. RESULTS: Folic acid and vitamin B-12 supplementation significantly improved vitamin B-12 and folate status, respectively. Neither folic acid nor vitamin B-12 administration reduced the incidence of diarrhea or lower respiratory infections. In comparison with placebo, children treated with folic acid alone or in combination with vitamin B-12 had a significantly higher risk of persistent diarrhea (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.8). CONCLUSIONS: Folic acid or vitamin B-12 supplementation did not reduce the burden of common childhood infections. In view of the increased risk of diarrhea, the safety of folic acid supplements in young children should be further assessed. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00717730 and at www.ctri.nic.in as CTRI/2010/091/001090.

Poor folate status predicts persistent diarrhea in 6- to 30-month-old north Indian children.

Poor micronutrient status is associated with diarrheal illness, but it is not known whether low folate and/or cobalamin status are independent risk factors for diarrhea. We measured the association between plasma folate and cobalamin and subsequent diarrheal morbidity in a prospective cohort study of 2296 children aged 6-30 mo in New Delhi, India. Plasma concentrations of folate, cobalamin, total homocysteine (tHcy), and methylmalonic acid were determined at baseline. Whether a child had diarrhea was recorded during weekly visits in a 4-mo zinc supplementation trial. Diarrhea episodes lasting <7, ≥7, and ≥14 d were classified as acute, prolonged, and persistent, respectively. There was a total of 4596 child periods with acute, 633 with prolonged, and 117 with persistent diarrhea during follow-up. Children with plasma folate concentrations in the lowest quartile had higher odds of persistent diarrhea than children in the other quartiles [adjusted OR = 1.77 (95% CI = 1.14, 2.75); P = 0.01]. This effect differed between boys [adjusted OR = 2.51 (95% CI = 1.47, 4.28)] and girls [adjusted OR = 1.03 (95% CI = 0.53, 2.01); P-interaction = 0.030]. We found a small but significant association between high plasma tHcy concentration and acute diarrhea [adjusted OR = 1.14 (95% CI = 1.04, 1.24); P = 0.006]. Plasma cobalamin concentration was not a predictor of diarrheal morbidity. In conclusion, poor folate status was an independent predictor of persistent diarrhea in this population.

Cobalamin status modifies the effect of zinc supplementation on the incidence of prolonged diarrhea in 6- to 30-month-old north Indian children.

The observed effect of zinc supplementation on diarrheal morbidity varies between trials and there is a need to identify subgroups most likely to benefit from improved zinc nutriture. In a randomized, double-blind trial in 2296 children in New Delhi, India, we assessed whether baseline cobalamin or folate status modified the effect of zinc supplementation on the incidence of prolonged (≥ 7 d duration) and acute diarrhea. Children aged 6-30 mo received zinc or placebo daily for 4 mo. We measured plasma concentrations of folate, cobalamin, total homocysteine (tHcy), and methylmalonic acid (MMA) at enrollment and assessed the efficacy of zinc supplementation in subgroups based on these variables. The efficacy of zinc on reducing the risk of prolonged diarrhea was higher in those with plasma cobalamin concentrations below the 25th percentile and in those with tHcy and MMA concentrations above the 75th percentile. The OR (95% CI) for children below and above the 25th percentile for cobalamin were 0.53 (0.35-0.78) and 0.90 (0.73-1.11), respectively (P-interaction = 0.015). There were similar differences for the OR when comparing efficacy in those above and below the 75th percentile for tHcy and MMA (P-interaction = 0.045 and 0.188, respectively). Baseline folate status did not modify the effect of zinc on prolonged diarrhea. Neither cobalamin nor folate status influenced the effect of zinc on acute diarrhea. Children with poor cobalamin status benefited more from zinc supplementation for the prevention of prolonged diarrhea.

Dietary intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and coronary events in Norwegian patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of fish and n-3 (omega-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) has been associated with reduced risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the relation between dietary intake of n-3 LCPUFAs or fish and risk of future coronary events or mortality in patients with well-characterized CAD. DESIGN: This was a substudy of 2412 participants in the Western Norway B Vitamin Intervention Trial with a median follow-up time of 57 mo. Patients aged >18 y diagnosed with CAD (81% men) completed a food-frequency questionnaire at baseline, from which daily intakes of eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids as well as fish were estimated on the basis of diet and intakes of supplements including fish and cod liver oils. The main endpoint was a composite of coronary events, including coronary death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, and unstable angina pectoris. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) intakes of n-3 LCPUFAs in quartiles 1-4 were 0.58 +/- 0.29, 0.83 +/- 0.30, 1.36 +/- 0.44, and 2.64 +/- 1.18 g/d, respectively. We found no dose-response relation between quartiles of n-3 LCPUFAs (based on intake as percentage of total energy) or fish and coronary events or separate endpoints. A post hoc additive proportional hazards model showed a slightly increased risk of coronary events at an intake of n-3 LCPUFAs < approximately 0.30 g/d. CONCLUSION: Among Norwegian patients with CAD consuming relatively high amounts of n-3 LCPUFAs and fish, there were no significant trends toward a reduced risk of coronary events or mortality with increasing intakes. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00354081.

A multimicronutrient-fortified seasoning powder enhances the hemoglobin, zinc, and iodine status of primary school children in North East Thailand: a randomized controlled trial of efficacy.

Anemia and co-existing deficiencies of zinc, iron, iodine, and vitamin A occur among children in many developing countries including NE Thailand, probably contributing to impairments in growth, immune competence, and cognition. Sustainable strategies are urgently required to combat these deficiencies. We assessed the efficacy of a micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder served with a school lunch on reducing anemia and improving the micronutrient status of rural NE Thai children. Children (n = 569) aged 5.5-13.4y from 10 schools were randomly assigned to receive a seasoning powder either unfortified or fortified with zinc (5 mg), iron (5 mg), vitamin A (270 microg), and iodine (50 microg) (per serving) and incorporated into a school lunch prepared centrally and delivered 5 d/wk for 31 wk. Teachers monitored school lunch consumption. Baseline and final micronutrient status, hemoglobinopathies, and infection or inflammation were assessed from blood and urine samples. For the primary outcome, anemia (based on hemoglobin), no intervention effect was apparent (odds ratio: 1.02 95% CI: 0.69, 1.51) after adjustment for design strata. The odds of zinc (based on serum zinc) and urinary iodine deficiency in the fortified group were 0.63 (0.42, 0.94) and 0.52 (0.38, 0.71) times those in the unfortified group, respectively. Fortification had no effect on serum retinol (0.61: 0.25,1.51), ferritin (1.12: 0.43, 2.96), or mean red cell volume (1.16: 0.82, 1.64). Therefore, a micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder is a promising vehicle for improving zinc, iodine, and hemoglobin status, and its potential for incorporation into lunch programs in day care centers and schools in NE Thailand warrants investigation.