To examine the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among private sector service workers in Finland and assess validity of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) tool.

In this cross-sectional study, food insecurity and background characteristics were collected from Finnish private service workers via electronic questionnaires (2019) and national register data (2018–2019). We conducted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the variables explaining food insecurity. Validity of HFIAS was assessed with rotated principal component analysis and Cronbach’s α.

Members of the trade union for private sector service workers, Service Union United (PAM), from all municipalities in Finland participated in the study in 2019.

The subjects were 6435 private sector workers that were members of the Service Union United (PAM) in Finland. Mean age of participants was 44 years (sd 12·7 years).

Two-thirds of the participants (65 %) were food insecure with over a third (36 %) reporting severe food insecurity. Reporting great difficulties in covering household expenses and young age markedly increased the risk of severe food insecurity (OR 15·05; 95 % CI 10·60, 21·38 and OR 5·07; 95 % CI 3·94, 6·52, respectively). Not being married, low education, working in the hospitality industry, being male and living in rented housing also increased the probability of severe food insecurity. The HFIAS tool demonstrated acceptable construct and criterion validity.

Severe food insecurity was widespread and associated with low socio-economic status, young age and being male among Finnish private sector service workers, emphasising the need for regular monitoring of food insecurity in Finland.

To assess Fe intake, calculate the prevalence of inadequate Fe intake and identify food contributors to Fe intake during 2003 and 2008 in a population-based study, reflecting before and after the mandatory fortification of flour with Fe.

Two cross-sectional population-based studies conducted in 2003 and 2008. Dietary intake was evaluated by 24 h recall and the Software for Intake Distribution Estimation (PC-SIDE) was used to estimate within-person variance and prevalence of inadequate Fe intake. The statistical analysis was conducted considering the complex survey design.

São Paulo, Brazil.

Adolescents, adults and elderly adults of both sexes, interviewed in 2003 (n 2386) and 2008 (n 1661).

The Fe intake mean increased in all populations in the post-fortification period. A reduction of over 90 % was observed in the prevalence of inadequate Fe intake among men for all age groups analysed. When evaluating women, despite the substantial reduction (over 63 %), prevalence of inadequate Fe intake remained high (34 %) in those aged 19–50 years. Major food contributors to Fe intake before fortification were beans, beef, vegetables and dairy. There was an alteration in the contributors in the post-fortification period, with bread, beef, beans and biscuits as main contributors.

The mandatory fortification with Fe significantly furthered the reduction in the prevalence of inadequacy, except among women of reproductive age, and changed the main contributors to this nutrient in the studied population. Therefore, monitoring of Fe addition in flour is essential to assess compliance to the fortified flour policy and to guarantee a safe Fe intake for all the population.

To estimate latent dietary profiles in a community-dwelling sample of older Americans and identify associations between dietary profile membership and individual demographic, socio-economic and health characteristics.

Secondary analysis of the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and linked 2013 Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS). Latent profile analysis identified mutually exclusive subgroups of dietary intake and bivariate analyses examined associations between dietary profile membership, participant characteristics and nutrient intakes.

USA.

An analytic sample of 3558 adults aged 65 years or older.

Four dietary profiles were identified with 15·5 % of the sample having a ‘Healthy’ diet, 42·0 % consuming a ‘Western’ diet, 29·7 % having a diet consisting of high intake of all food groups and 12·7 % reporting relatively low intake of all food groups. Members of the ‘Healthy’ profile reported the greatest socio-economic resources and health, and members of the ‘Low Intake’ profile had the fewest resources and worst health outcomes. Macronutrient and micronutrient intakes varied across profile although inadequate and excessive intakes of selected nutrients were observed for all profiles.

We identified dietary patterns among older Americans typified by either selective intake of foods or overall quantity of foods consumed, with those described as ‘Low Intake’ reporting the fewest socio-economic resources, greatest risk of food insecurity and the worst health outcomes. Limitations including the presence of measurement error in dietary questionnaires are discussed. The causes and consequences of limited dietary intake among older Americans require further study and can be facilitated by the HRS and HCNS.

To determine the serum levels of three lipid-soluble antioxidants (retinol, β-carotene and α-tocopherol) in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic (ANC) in Gondar, Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study involving laboratory determination of serum levels of retinol, α-tocopherol and β-carotene using high-performance liquid chromatography and questionnaire-based assessment of socio-economic status.

ANC of a university teaching hospital.

Three hundred and twenty-two healthy pregnant women in their third trimester, who attended the ANC.

Mean serum levels of retinol, α-tocopherol and β-carotene were found to be 1.23±0.5, 25.5±0.9 and 0.21±0.09 μmol l−1, respectively. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (<1.05 μmol l−1) among pregnant women was 38.5%. Women having low retinol (vitamin A) levels were highly likely to live in earth-floored and mud-walled houses, and less likely to own a house and to have a latrine.

The study shows that serum levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants were low among ANC attendees in northern Ethiopia. It also indicates that some socio-economic factors (such as poor housing standard) are associated with vitamin A deficiency.

Northern rural areas of Tehran have been shown to have severe iodine deficiency in our previous studies. In 1989 the inhabitants of these villages received an injection of iodised oil, followed by iodised salt distribution in 1993. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the iodine supplementation on iodine-deficient schoolchildren with hypothyroidism in these villages.

In total, 571 students aged 6–14 years were studied. Goitre was graded according to the World Health Organization classification. Serum concentrations of thyroid hormones (thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined using commercial kits, and urinary iodine was measured using a digestion method. The results were compared with data from our previous study in 1989.

Total goitre rate decreased by 42% in 1999 compared with that in 1989. A significant decrease in Grade 2 goitre concomitant with an increase in Grade 1 goitre was seen (P < 0.001). Values of the variables studied before (1989) and 10 years after iodine supplementation (1999) were: median urinary iodine excretion, 2.0 vs. 19.0 μg dl−1 (P < 0.001); T4, 6.5 ± 2.0 vs. 8.4 ± 1.6 μg dl−1 (P < 0.001); T3, 177 ± 38.0 vs. 145 ± 29.0 ng dl−1 (P < 0.001); TSH, 10.8 ± 15.1 vs. 1.8 ± 0.8 μU ml−1 (P < 0.001). No correlation was found between thyroid hormones and TSH on the one hand, and goitre and urinary iodine, on the other. Serum T4, T3 and TSH concentrations were within normal ranges in all schoolchildren in 1999.

This study showed that euthyroidism induced by administration of iodised oil in iodine-deficient schoolchildren with hypothyroidism is sustained following the consumption of iodised salt.

To assess the effects of socio-economic status (SES) on BMI, waist:hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) in a group of Iranian women.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 888 women in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. SES was measured using level of education. In addition, parity, marital status and physical activity were assessed. Standardized measurements were taken, BMI and WHR were calculated.

Low education level was a strong determinant of overweight and obesity among Iranian women. After controlling for age, women with higher education level had significantly lower BMI, WC and parity. Multiple linear regression analysis found a significant negative association of BMI and WC with education level and a significant positive association of BMI and WC with parity. Significant factors associated with obesity by a logistic regression model were education level (OR for university graduates v. illiterate or low literacy levels: 1·00 v. 3·70; P = 0·01), living with spouse (OR for married v. single subjects: 1·00 v. 0·15; P = 0·05), parity (OR for more than five v. less than two pregnancies: 1·00 v. 0·34; P = 0·03) and WC (OR for <0.88 cm v. ≥0.88 cm: 1·00 v. 11·20; P = 0·001).

The present study revealed that educational level, multiple pregnancies, marital status and lack of exercise are some possible explanations for the obesity among Sistan and Baluchestan women.

To validate an automated food image identification system, DietCam, which has not been validated, in identifying foods with different shapes and complexities from passively taken digital images.

Participants wore Sony SmartEyeglass that automatically took three images per second, while two meals containing four foods, representing regular- (i.e., cookies) and irregular-shaped (i.e., chips) foods and single (i.e., grapes) and complex (i.e., chicken and rice) foods, were consumed. Non-blurry images from the meals’ first 5 min were coded by human raters and compared with DietCam results. Comparisons produced four outcomes: true positive (rater/DietCam reports yes for food), false positive (rater reports no food; DietCam reports food), true negative (rater/DietCam reports no food) or false negative (rater reports food; DietCam reports no food).

Laboratory meal.

Thirty men and women (25·1 ± 6·6 years, 22·7 ± 1·6 kg/m2, 46·7 % White).

Identification accuracy was 81·2 and 79·7 % in meals A and B, respectively (food and non-food images) and 78·7 and 77·5 % in meals A and B, respectively (food images only). For food images only, no effect of food shape or complexity was found. When different types of images, such as 100 % food in the image and on the plate, <100 % food in the image and on the plate and food not on the plate, were analysed separately, images with food on the plate had a slightly higher accuracy.

DietCam shows promise in automated food image identification, and DietCam is most accurate when images show food on the plate.

To understand how access to natural resources may contribute to nutrition.

In each of the two major seasons, data were collected during a 7 d period using observations, semi-structured interviews, anthropometric measures and a weighed food consumption survey.

Four rural communities selected to represent inland and coastal areas of the Gamba Complex in Gabon.

In each community, all individuals from groups vulnerable to malnutrition, i.e. children aged 0–23 months (n 41) and 24–59 months (n 63) and the elderly (n 101), as well as women caregivers (n 96).

In most groups, household access to natural resources was associated with household access to food but not with individual nutritional status. In children aged 0–23 months, access to care and to health services and a healthy environment were the best predictors of length-for-age (adjusted R2: 14 %). Health status was the only predictor of weight-for-height in children aged 24–59 months (adjusted R2: 14 %). In women caregivers, household food security was negatively associated with nutritional status, as was being younger than 20 years (adjusted R2: 16 %). Among the elderly, only nutrient adequacy predicted nutritional status (adjusted R2: 5 %).

Improving access to care and health for young children would help reverse the process of undernutrition. Reaching a better understanding of how the access of individuals to both food and other resources relate to household access could further our appreciation of the constraints to good nutrition. This is particularly relevant in women to ensure that their possibly important contribution to the household is not at their own expense.

To identify individual-, provider- and system/environmental-level barriers and facilitators affecting cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants’ adherence to dietary recommendations.

A systematic review of the medical literature was conducted. Six databases were searched from inception through March 2021: APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, Emcare, Medline and PubMed. Only those studies referring to barriers and facilitators reported by CR participants were considered. Pilot and case report studies, non-peer-reviewed literature and studies published in a language other than English, Portuguese or Spanish were excluded.

Data were extracted and analysed on the basis of individual-, provider- and system/environmental-level factors. Of 2083 initial citations, sixteen studies were included, with nine being qualitative and seven observational in design. From these, ten multi-level barriers and seven multi-level facilitators were identified. Dietary recommendations included developing healthy eating habits, transitioning to vegetarian-rich diets and increasing fish oil and n-3 intake. Only one study reported on all of the nutrition education programme factors recommended by the Workgroup for Intervention Development and Evaluation Research.

To the best of our knowledge, this review is the first to summarise specific barriers and facilitators to recommendation adherence among CR participants. Few of the studies offered any conclusions regarding programme design that could facilitate improved dietary adherence practices. Future studies should aim to explore patient perspectives on the nutritional patterns and recommendations outlined in the Mediterranean Diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet, Vegetarian or Vegan diets and the Portfolio Diet.

To analyse the associations between chronic respiratory diseases and intakes of total flavonoids and their major subclasses (flavanones, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, polymers and proanthocyanidins).

Multi-case–control study.

The analysis was conducted in the frame of the Genes Environment Interaction in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD) study. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition FFQ was used to ascertain dietary intake. Multinomial regression models adjusting for age, sex, centre, BMI, smoking habit, alcohol intake, education, total energy intake, vitamin C intake and total fruit intake were used to examine the associations between dietary exposures and the relative risk ratio (RRR) of being a case.

Individuals (n 990) hierarchically defined as follows: cases with asthma (current, n 159; past, n 78), chronic bronchitis (n 47), rhinitis (allergic rhinitis, n 167; non-allergic rhinitis, n 142) and controls (n 97).

An increase of 1 sd in flavanones was associated with a reduced risk of non-allergic rhinitis (adjusted RRR = 0·68, 95 % CI 0·47, 0·97); a similar result was found comparing the highest v. lowest quartile of flavanones intake (adjusted RRR = 0·24, 95 % CI 0·10, 0·59).

Flavonoids contained in fruits and vegetables, especially flavanones, might reduce the risk of non-allergic rhinitis. No associations were found between other flavonoids and the considered outcomes.

Despite the usefulness of quantitative research, qualitative research methodologies are equally needed to allow researchers to better understand the important social and environmental factors affecting food choice and eating habits. The present paper contributes insights from narrative inquiry, a well-established qualitative methodology, to a food-related doctoral research study. The connections between food shoppers and the producer, family, friends and others in the food system, between eaters and the earth, and how these connections affect people’s meaning-making of food and pathways to food citizenship, were explored in the research.

The research used narrative inquiry methodology and focus groups for data collection.

Five different food-ways in the Canberra region of Australia were selected for the present research; that is, community gardens, community-supported agriculture, farmers’ markets, fresh food markets and supermarkets.

Fifty-two people voluntarily attended eight focus groups with four to nine participants in each.

From a practical perspective, the present paper offers a guide to the way in which narrative inquiry has been applied to one research project. The paper describes the application of narrative inquiry methodology, revealing the important place of narratives in generating new knowledge. The paper further outlines how phased narrative analysis can lead to a defensible and rigorous interpretive framework grounded in the data generated from people’s stories and meaning-making.

We argue that individual, social and system change will not be possible without further rigorous qualitative studies to inform and complement the empirical basis of public health nutrition practice.

To evaluate the profile of food acquisition in the National School Feeding Program according to the extent and purpose of food processing in three municipalities of southern Brazil during the implementation period of Law 11.947/2009.

Descriptive cross-sectional study. Data for 2008–2010 involved quantities, prices and types of suppliers for food items purchased. In total, 1529 purchases were analysed. The items were classified into the following groups: G1 (unprocessed/minimally processed), G2 (culinary ingredients), G3 (processed), G4 (ultra-processed). Quantities of purchased foods were converted into energy and average prices ($US/4184 kJ (1000 kcal)) were calculated. The proportion of each food group in total purchases was expressed as both a percentage of total energy and a percentage of total expenditure. Data analysis was carried out in Stata version 12.1.

Three municipalities in southern Brazil.

Relative contribution to total energy purchased was high for G1 (49·8 %; G2, 23·8 %; G3, 4·5 %; G4, 21·8 %). Among acquisitions from family farming, G1 represented 51·3 % of the total energy purchased; G2, 9·9 %; G3, 19·7 %; G4, 19·0 %. Total cost was as follows: G1, 61·6 %; G2, 3·9 %; G3, 18·5 %; G4, 16·0 %. Prices for food products from family farms were consistently higher. Average price from family farms was 1·3; from conventional suppliers, 0·9.

The implementation of Law 11.947/2009 produced a positive effect on the regional profile of food purchases for the School Feeding Program. However, there is still considerable potential to promote health by strengthening relationships between family farming and school feeding.

The study sought to assess the influence of nutrition education and intervention programmes on nutrition knowledge and dietary practice among both students and staff (including faculty) of Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia.

A pretest–posttest, non-randomised experimental study design was implemented at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh City between September 2019 and February 2020.

Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University is the largest women’s university in the world and has eighteen colleges and institutions and around ninety academic programmes.

The survey was completed by 1824 participants (1350 students and 474 staff/faculty) before the intervention and by a different cohort of 1731 participants (1317 students and 414 staff/faculty) after the intervention. In total, an independent sample of 3555 staff and students participated. Participants were asked about dietary knowledge and practices. Dietary knowledge entailed food variety and nutrients, fast food and its poor nutritional value, and the influence of cooking style on the nutritional quality of food. Dietary practices involved eating breakfast; consuming salt/sugar, eating high-salt food; eating pre-packaged food and consumption of vegetables, fruits, supplements, water and caffeine.

The majority of the sample consisted of students (75·1 %) and had not been diagnosed with any disease (73·7 %). The result of the current study showed that nutrition knowledge improved after completion of the nutrition programme.

The nutrition awareness programme improved students’ nutritional knowledge; however, there was no significant effect on their dietary practices. Future nutrition awareness programmes should separate activities for students and staff, focusing on one target population at a time.

While socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents tend to have poor dietary intakes, some manage to eat healthily. Understanding how some disadvantaged adolescents restrict high-energy foods and beverages may inform initiatives promoting healthier diets among this population. The present investigation aimed to: (i) identify disadvantaged adolescents’ high-energy food and beverage intakes; and (ii) explore cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between intrapersonal, social and environmental factors and disadvantaged adolescents’ high-energy food intakes.

Longitudinal online surveys were completed at baseline (2004–2005) and follow-up (2006–2007), each comprising a thirty-eight-item FFQ and questions examining intrapersonal, social and environmental factors.

Thirty-seven secondary schools in metropolitan and non-metropolitan Victoria, Australia.

Of 1938 adolescents aged 12–15 years participating at both time points, 529 disadvantaged adolescents (whose mothers had low education levels) were included in the present investigation.

At baseline and follow-up, respectively 32 % and 39 % of adolescents consumed high-energy foods less frequently (≤2 high-energy food meals/week); 61 % and 65 % consumed high-energy beverages less frequently (≤1 time/d). More girls than boys had less frequent high-energy food intakes, and baseline consumption frequency predicted consumption frequency at follow-up. Adolescents with less frequent consumption of high-energy foods and beverages seldom ate fast food for main meals, reported reduced availability of high-energy foods at home and were frequently served vegetables at dinner.

Nutrition promotion initiatives could help improve disadvantaged adolescents’ eating behaviours by promoting adolescents and their families to replace high-energy meals with nutritious home-prepared meals and decrease home availability of high-energy foods in place of more nutritious foods.

To conduct the first nationwide population survey to examine the associations between changes in speed of eating and weight gain over 3 years. The study also explored whether faster eating at baseline was related to healthy-weight women becoming overweight after 3 years.

Longitudinal. At baseline, participants were randomly selected from a nationally representative sampling frame to participate in a prospective study. Women completed self-administered baseline questionnaires on demographic and health measures. Self-reported speed of eating, smoking status, physical activity, menopause status, and height and weight were collected at baseline and again 3 years later.

Nationwide study, New Zealand.

Women (n 1601) aged 40–50 years were recruited at baseline from New Zealand electoral rolls.

There was no evidence of associations between 3-year BMI adjusting for baseline BMI and either baseline speed of eating (slower and faster; P=0·524) or change in speed of eating (consistently faster eating, consistently slower eating, slower eating at baseline but not at 3 years, faster eating at baseline but not at 3 years; P=0·845). Of the 488 women with healthy BMI (18·5 to <25·0 kg/m2) at baseline, seventy-seven (15·8 %) became overweight (BMI≥25·0 kg/m2) after 3 years. Compared with those who were slower eaters at baseline, faster eating at baseline did not increase the risk of becoming overweight 3 years later (P=0·958) nor did change in speed of eating (P=0·236).

Results suggest that once women have reached mid-life, faster eating does not predict further weight gain.

The present study was conducted to investigate reasons for the high prevalence of anaemia among adolescent schoolgirls and to elucidate the role of vitamin A in contributing to Fe-deficiency anaemia (IDA).

Among 1269 schoolgirls who were previously screened for anaemia (Hb < 120 g/l), 391 anaemic girls were further assessed for Fe, vitamin A and subclinical inflammation status. Fe and vitamin A indicators were corrected for inflammation and were compared in the Fe-deficient and non-deficient groups as well as between those with and without inflammation. Logistic regression was done to determine whether vitamin A status and subclinical inflammation were risk factors for Fe deficiency. The differences in Fe status among tertiles of vitamin A concentrations were assessed using ANOVA.

Myanmar.

Adolescent schoolgirls (n 391).

One-third of the anaemia (30·4 %) was IDA. Prevalence of low vitamin A status (serum retinol <1·05 μmol/l) was 31·5 %. Fe and vitamin A status were significantly different between the IDA and non-IDA groups and also based on their inflammation status. Logistic regression showed that low vitamin A status was a significant predictor for being Fe deficient (OR = 1·81; 95 % CI 1·03, 3·19 and OR = 2·31; 1·31, 4·07 in the middle (1·056–1·298 μmol/l) and low (≤1·056 μmol/l) vitamin A tertiles, respectively). ANOVA showed that better Fe status was associated with a higher concentration of serum retinol but only in IDA.

Fe deficiency was not the main cause of anaemia in the present population. The role of vitamin A as well as other micronutrients should be taken into account in addressing the problem of anaemia.

To compare macronutrient intakes of Swedish children and adolescents to population goals; to identify the major sources of energy, fat, saturated fat and sucrose; and to simulate the effect adherence to current food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) would have on saturated fat and sucrose intakes.

Cross-sectional study. From 24 h recall data, food groups contributing most to energy, fat, saturated fat and sucrose were identified. Based on the prevailing consumption of foods mentioned in the FBDG, we simulated five scenarios: changes in milk and yoghurt; cheese; energy-dense, nutrient-dilute foods; soft drinks; and burger and sausage consumption.

Stockholm and Örebro (Sweden) in 1998–1999.

Children (n 551, 9·6 years) and adolescents (n 569, 15·5 years) participating in the European Youth Heart Study.

Intakes of saturated fat and sucrose exceeded population goals in all age and gender subgroups. Compliance to the goal for saturated fat was lower in children, particularly boys. Compliance to the sucrose goal was lower among adolescents. The major sources of energy, fat, saturated fat and sucrose in the diet reflect not only the traditional Swedish diet but also the influence of energy-dense, nutrient-dilute foods. The simulations suggest that a combination of FBDG is required to bring both saturated fat and sucrose intakes in line with recommendations.

Widespread adherence to a combination of FBDG could theoretically bring mean intakes in line with population goals. The effect on overall nutrient intakes as well as consumer acceptance of such changes needs to be considered.

To analyse dietary compliance with WHO/FAO nutritional objectives, identify food subgroups that contribute to discrepancies between dietary intakes and recommendations, and assess food patterns and risk factor profiles at common nutritional targets.

The study was a population-based, cross-sectional assessment of the dietary patterns of Tehranian adults. Usual dietary intake was assessed in relation to common nutritional targets of public health (fat, saturated fat, dietary fibre, fruit and vegetables) using a validated FFQ. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors were diagnosed based on the Iranian-modified diagnostic criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

The Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (2005–2008).

A total of 2510 individuals (1121 men and 1389 women), aged between 19 and 70 years.

Generally, 68·5 % of total grain ounce-equivalents were derived from refined grains, with rice making up 36·6 % of all grains consumed. Solid fat (61·1 %) contributed more to discretionary energy than did added sugars (38·9 %). There was a twofold difference in fruit and vegetable consumption between the lowest and highest quartile categories of dietary fibre intake. The probability of having MetS was significantly lower in the highest quartile of fibre intake v. the lowest (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI 0·58, 0·84 v. OR = 0·92, 95 % CI 0·80, 1·03; P -trend < 0·001), whereas it was higher in the highest quartile of SFA intake v. the lowest (OR = 0·92, 95 % CI 0·78, 0·98 v. OR = 0·71, 95 % CI 0·62, 0·89; P-trend = 0·01).

Complying with common nutritional targets of public health is inversely associated with MetS risk factors in Tehranian adults. These results may initiate measures for future development of regional food-based dietary guidelines.

Rates of migration have increased substantially in recent years and so has the number of left-behind children (LBC). We investigated the impact of parental migration on nutritional disorders of LBC in Bangladesh.

We analysed data from the nationally representative cross-sectional Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2012–2013. Child stunting, wasting and underweight were used as measures of nutritional disorders. Descriptive statistics were used to describe characteristics of the respondents and to compare nutritional outcomes based on status of parental migration. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between parental migration and child nutritional disorders.

Bangladesh.

Data of 23 402 children (aged <5 years), their parents and households.

In the unadjusted models, parental migration was found significantly protective for stunting, wasting and underweight – both separately and jointly. After potential confounders were controlled for, no difference was found between LBC and non-LBC in any of these three nutritional outcome measures. Household wealth status and maternal educational status were found to significantly influence the nutritional development of the children.

At the population level there is no negative impact of parental migration on stunting, wasting and underweight of LBC in Bangladesh. Remittance from parental migration might enhance affordability of better foods, health care and supplies for a cleaner environment. This affordability is crucial for the poorest section of the society.

Assessing the relationship between low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) score and metabolic syndrome (Mets) in Iranian adults.

Cross-sectional study

Yazd Health Study and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd study.

Data of 2074 participants were used. Dietary intakes were assessed by a validated semi-quantitative FFQ. LCD score was calculated for each person by summing up the assigned scores to deciles of energy percentages from macronutrients. Mets was evaluated using National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Eventually, association between LCD score and Mets was examined using logistic regression.

Total Mets prevalence was approximately 40·5 %. After adjustment for confounders, subjects in the higher quartile of LCD score had a significant lower chance of Mets than lower quartile among all participants (Q4 v. Q1: OR: 0·68, 95 % CI (0·50, 0·92)) and separately in men (Q4 v. Q1: OR: 0·54, 95 % CI (0·34, 0·86)) and women (Q2 v. Q1: OR: 0·53, 95 % CI (0·34, 0·82)). Furthermore, more LCD adherence in men reduced abdominal obesity by 47 % (Q3 v. Q1: OR: 0·53, 95 % CI (0·28, 0·99)). A significant inverse relation was also observed between low HDL cholesterol and LCD score in all participants (Q4 versus Q1 OR: 0·74, 95% CI: 0·56–0·99) and separately in men (Q4 versus Q1 OR: 0·63, 95% CI: 0·40–0·98).

More adherence to LCD might be related to lower chance of Mets and some of its components such as low HDL-cholesterol and abdominal obesity specially in men. Further studies are required to confirm the findings.