Food and nutrition research

This study aims to compare the prevalence of hospital malnutrition measured by different methods including Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), serum albumin, total lympho count and mid upper arm circumference in acute care patients in Thong Nhat hospital in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.

Historically, evidences have demonstrated a close relationship between nutrition and the effective functions of our immune system in keeping our body healthy. In fact, it has been fully accepted that the immune cells infiltrate every bodily system and have a role in every disease that we know so far. The activation of the immune system requires large amount of nutrients to fuel multiple metabolic pathways. 

Hypertriglycemia in children is related to the metabolic syndrome in adulthood and is at greater risk for cardiovascular disease which is the cause of death worldwide. In order to assess the influence of personal characteristics, family factors, eating habits and physical activities to risk of hypertriglycemia in children from 6 to 11 years of age in primary schools in Hanoi, 437 healthy children were conducted case-control study (295 healthy children and 142 hypertriglycemia children). 

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 332 hospitalized patients in internal medicine departments of Friendship Vietnam – Cuba hospital in Dong Hoi in September 2013 to assess the nutritional status of patients as well as to ininialy define related factors to chronic energy deficiency of hospitalized patients. 

Objective: The study aimed to describe the situation of breastfeeding of mothers with children under 2 and some related factors. Methods:  A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 232 mothers with children under 2 years old in Doan Xa commune, Kien Thuy district, Hai Phong. Results: 97.8% of the mothers understood that breast milk had adequate energy and nutrients needed for the development of children in the first 6 months. 

The study was conducted in 1854 people from 30 to 75 years old, who lived in rural areas of Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province. The results showed that: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 12.6% (in males: 9.3% and females: 15.7%); Low HDL-cholesterol had the highest rate (49.8%), the rate of hypertension was 36.9%, the rate of abdominal obesity was lowest (5.5%). 

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 129 pairs of mothers and children aged from 6-23 months in two poor communes of Bac Ha and Simacai district, Lao Cai province in 2014 to describe actual complementary food intake in children aged 6-23 months. 

This review article is an overview of what it means by 1000 golden days from pregnancy to the first 2 years of life, its roles in stunting reduction and socio-economical development. Referring to Lancet Series on Maternal and Child Nutrition 2008 and 2013, the article also summaries evidence-based interventions within this window of opportunity with recommended focus for the country’s nutrition strategy and program.

Objectives: To assess nutrition status and dietary intake on 125 osteoporosis women. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 125 women 50-69 years old in 02 communes of Van Tao and Van Binh of Thuong Tin District, suburb of Hanoi. They were diagnosed of osteoporosis by DEXA. Data on anthropometric measurement and dietary intake by the 24 hours recall method were collected. 

The study was conducted in 1382 adolescents aged 11 – 17 in Secondary and High schools in Bac Ninh province and Hanoi city from September 2001 to January 2002. Weight, height and triceps skin – fold thickness were measured then the nutritional status was classified to base on BMI for age. 

The vitamin A (VA) status and their related factors in the communes whose prevalence of PEM less than 15% and less than 30% (in WA & WH) were analyzed, some conclusions were followings: No significantly different on serum – VA concentrations in children, but significantly higher on breast–milk VA ub the communes with PEM < 15% than that in communes with PEM < 30% were onserved. 

The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children 0-5 years old in Thu Dau Mot city, Binh Duong province. A cross sectional study was implemented on 365 healthy children aged 0-5 years old, recruited from 6 wards of Thu Dau Mot city. 

The study aimed to assess the situation of stunting and micro-nutrient deficiencies among children under 2 in Northern Mountain and Central Highland. Disease-control study design was applied on 600 children under with disease group (stunted children) and controlled group (non stunted children) in 4 disadvantaged provinces (Lao Cai and Lai Chau in the Northern Mountain; Gia Lai and Kon Tum of Central Highland). 

A cross sectional study was conducted in 951 preschool and 2425 primary school children in 6 kindergartens and 6 primary schools in Nghia Dan district between July and September 2013. 

Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the effect of a daily ready-to-use-supplement foods (RUSF) fortified with 21 micronutrients providing 225 kcal (Hebi-Mam) on hemoglobin status of pregnant women in 10 communes, An Lao district, Hai Phong city. 

Vitamin A deficiency is still a worldwide public health issue in Vietnam. To be able to provide future recommendations on the timing of interventions, and to contribute to the theories and practices of vitamin A supplementation for lactating mothers,  we evaluated the effectiveness of a high dose vitamin A supplementation within the first week after delievery on breask milk retinol status during a 6 week periode. 

A cross sectional survey was conducted in 394 children aged 12-35 months and their mothers in Nghia Dan district of Nghe An province in 2014. The objective is to assess nutritional status and dietary intake of the children and knowledge and practices on child care and feeding of their mothers. 

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Quang Ngai in 2008, of which a total of 572 mothers having children under 24 months (281 mothers in Tu Nghia and 291 mothers in Nghia Hanh) were involved in the survey. The results have showed that 65.4% mothers had at least 3 antenatal check-ups, only 13.8% mothers had at least 5 antenatal check-ups as Ministry of Health's recomendation. 

The quantitative analysis method by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) was developed to determine clenbuterol residues in pork and chicken meat with high sensitivity and validity. The optimal conditions included: temperature and time derivating Clenbuterol is 700C in 45 minutes; using Toluene solvent for residues the Clenbuterol-TMS derivatives, column- SCX for sample clean-up. 

Objectives: Assessment of nutrition status, anemia, knowledge and practices on anemia prevention and control among female workers in three factories in Binh Duong province and Ho Chi Minh City. Methods: A cross-sectional study on 324 female workers aged 18-45 years. 

Malnutrition of hospitalized patients was related to high risks of mortality, morbidity and longer hospital stays. A prospective study was conducted in hospitalized patients from October to December 2013 in three hospitals: General Hospital in Dak Lak province, Vietnam Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi and 175 hospitals (Ho Chi Minh City) with a total of 997 patients. 

An epidemiological survey was carried-out on 4879 school students aged 10-15 randomly selected from primary schools and secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh city to evaluate the prevalence of overweight/obesity and their cardiovascular risks. All subjects were measured height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. There were 486 subjects randomly selected to take blood for serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentration. 

Several studies have raised a question that BMI cut-off point for obesity as defined by WHO may not reflect the nature of obesity – excessive adiposity. The study aimed to look at the association between BMI and BFP and to propose BMI cut-off point for BFP-defined obesity. Methods: 267 subjects aged 20-60 years were recruited to collect variables of body composition by Body Composition Analyzer, TANITA MC-180MA, Japan.