https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/issue/feedWorld Nutrition2024-01-09T14:27:49-07:00Ted Greinerinfo@worldnutritionjournal.orgOpen Journal Systems<p>World Nutrition is the editorially independent journal of the <a title="WPHNA home page" href="http://wphna.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Public Health Nutrition Association</a>. It aims to provide a platform for the global public health nutrition "community" to share information, experiences, and research, as well as debate critical issues. It is global in scope, presenting content of general interest to the field of public health nutrition as well as content specific to low-income or high-income settings regarding public health nutrition. Its content includes original research, literature reviews, commentaries, book reviews, editorials, and letters to the editor. The journal takes a holistic approach to public health nutrition and welcomes submissions from related fields such as agriculture, economics, and ecology. WN prides itself on our focus on health and nutrition equity, justice, and action. World Nutrition is an open access journal but also does not charge authors. Neither the association nor the journal accept conflicts of interest with companies producing products that may compromise public health. The journal is funded entirely by WPHNA membership fees. All research articles and literature reviews go through at least two blinded peer reviews before an editorial decision on acceptance is taken. </p> <p>World Nutrition is indexed in DOAJ (https://doaj.org/). </p>https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/997Introduction to World Nutrition, Volume 14, Issue Number 4, 20232023-12-31T22:36:18-07:00Ted Greinerinfo@worldnutritionjournal.org2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/982A small-scale test of whether alkalizing diets can reduce the risk of disease as predicted by the Warburg Hypothesis2023-12-31T22:36:26-07:00Hassan Bahramih_bahrami_80@yahoo.comMajid Tafrihim.tafrihi@umz.ac.irTed Greinertedgreiner@yahoo.com<p>Diet and so-called dietary acid load have a significant effect on what have traditionally been called acid-base disorders and various disease states, including cancer. However, the effect has been poorly investigated, and standards of care in medical treatments for cancer patients generally do not consider monitoring acid-base disorders and resolving them using dietary interventions.<br>This paper begins by explaining the Warburg Hypothesis, focusing on dietary interventions thought to help maintain acid-base balance and reduce inflammation at the cellular level, as reflected in certain venous blood parameters. By integrating traditional and modern nutritional sciences for preventing and managing cancer, potential dietary interventions are identified that may help maintain nutritional status.<br>In addition, data on the efficacy of these nutritional interventions are presented, where the effect of following an alkalizing diet for 1-3 months is measured through venous blood gas parameters. Of 30 volunteers, 10 followed the prescribed diet for an entire month and their venous blood gas parameters before and after the diet were compared.<br>There appeared to be a significant impact of the diet on these parameters. Thus, we speculate that the prescribed alkalizing diet may be an effective practice to eliminate acid-base disorders and reduce its impact on cancer and other diseases. Further research should examine on a larger sample over a longer period of time, using additional parameters, whether such a diet could have an impact on the incidence or development of the cellular acid-base balance, levels of inflammation, and eventually various diseases, including cancer.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/978The performance of Indian States and Union Territories on Global Nutrition Targets: A rank-based analysis using a composite nutrition index2023-12-31T22:36:29-07:00Reema Duttareemadutta.rd@gmail.comVishal Kumarvishal_1957@yahoo.co.inKranti Suresh Vorakrantivora@gmail.comAntaryami Dashtissantaryami@gmail.com<p><strong>Background </strong></p> <p>The increased global discourse on nutrition challenges has underscored the imperative to comprehend and monitor diverse manifestations of malnutrition. The comprehensive monitoring of various forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, plays a pivotal role in assessing the progress towards the Global Nutrition Targets (GNTs) established by the World Health Assembly (WHA), as well as nutrition-related SDGs (SDGs). To this end, a Composite Index (CI) of six nutrition indicators centred on GNTs has been formulated to gauge and appraise progress across India’s various States and Union Territories (UTs).</p> <p><strong>Methods </strong></p> <p>To calculate the CI, the authors apply a methodology developed by Webb et al. (2015). Disparities in performance between Indian States and UTs are highlighted. The analysis uses data from two surveys: the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of 2015-16 and the NFHS of 2019-21. The main analytical tool is a rank-order analysis of the CI scores among states and union territories, with higher scores representing greater progress in achieving the targets for the six indicators.</p> <p><strong>Results </strong></p> <p>Based on data from both NFHS-4 and NFHS-5, India’s overall estimated CI-WHA score stood at 2.80 and 2.86, respectively. Notably, the CI-WHA exhibited considerable inter-State/UT variation, ranging from 2.16 in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu to 5.07 in Manipur, as per NFHS-4, and from 2.14 in Gujarat to 5.25 in Manipur, as per NFHS-5. Among the 34 States/UTs for which complete data sets for all six WHA targets were available from NFHS-4, the top five performers according to the developed CI-WHA targets were Manipur (5.07), Mizoram (4.87), Nagaland (4.12), Kerala (4.00), and Telangana (3.80). In contrast, the bottom five States/UTs based on NFHS-4 data were Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2.16), Uttar Pradesh (2.31), Meghalaya (2.40), Haryana (2.40) and Madhya Pradesh (2.43). However, based on NFHS-5 data, the top five States/UTs were Manipur (5.25), Mizoram (4.29), Puducherry (UT) (4.15), Goa (3.89), and Kerala (3.87), while the bottom five were Gujarat (2.14), Tripura (2.16), West Bengal (2.20), Bihar (2.31), and Assam (2.46).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions </strong></p> <p>Applying the CI to monitor States/UTs’ progress in reaching WHA targets. Furthermore, it offers a means to track the progress made on nutrition-related SDGs at the sub-national level. This can help identify States/UTs whose nutrition policies and programs require targeted enhancements to comprehensively improve India’s performance concerning GNTs. It aims to empower policymakers with the information required to make informed decisions and implement effective measures to enhance overall nutrition outcomes, especially in under-performing States/UTs.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/972The Food Consumption Pattern of Adolescents in Ibadan2023-12-31T22:36:31-07:00Akintunde Olufemi Akinolafolatundeus@yahoo.com<p>Dietary behaviours of adolescents drive the development of chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from 800 students at 9 schools in Ibadan, Nigeria and a 74-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the frequency of intake of specific foods. Roots and tubers and cereals and legumes were the most commonly consumed food groups. Daily intake of the most commonly consumed fruits was reported by 26.5% (tangerine), 28.0% (pawpaw) and 37.8% (orange). 40.9% reported daily consumption of tomato. 43.2% and 41.8% respectively consumed carbonated drinks and chocolate-flavoured drinks daily. There is a need for the promotion of healthier food choices in these schools.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/989The Association between Stress Factors and Number of Meals consumed per day in a sample of Pakistani Students2023-12-31T22:36:25-07:00Hajra Ishaqhajraishaq786@yahoo.comTaliha Ahmedtaliha.ahmed@cust.edu.pkShaukat Iqbal Malikdrshaukat@cust.edu.pk<p>Background<br>Studies have shown that stress not only affects the biological activities of the body but also the behavioral patterns. The purpose of this study was to discover Social Stress-Causing Factors among students in two Pakistani cities and their correlation with students’ food intake.</p> <p><br>Methods<br>347 students enlisted and responded to a questionnaire on the internet.</p> <p><br>Results<br>The main causes of stress were finances, a lack of exercise, the pressure to achieve high marks, finishing courses and tests, exams, and meeting deadlines. 74.6% experienced a change in food intake (as measured by meal frequency) as a result of stress, with 56.2% reporting.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/990SOCIO-CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES IN NIGER2024-01-09T14:27:49-07:00Maimouna Issoufou Kapranmissoufo@go.olemiss.eduAlisha Farrisfarrisar@appstate.eduNadeeja Niranjalie Wijayatunganadeejaw@olemiss.eduMelinda Valliantvalliant@olemiss.eduGeorgianna Manngrmann@go.olemiss.edu<p><strong>Background</strong></p> <p>Niger has one of the lowest exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates in the world. Prelacteal feeding practices may contribute to low EBF rates, but research on the barriers related to EBF in Niger is limited.</p> <p><strong>Objective</strong></p> <p>The purpose of this study was to identify socio-cultural determinants for, and barriers to, EBF during an infant’s first 6 months through maternal perspectives in Niamey, the capital of Niger.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong></p> <p>Participants were mothers with children aged 0 to 24 months in Niamey, Niger. Participants completed an interview including a 20-item questionnaire on socio-demographics, breastfeeding support and knowledge, a short food security survey, and a 24-hour diet recall. Infant anthropometric data (height, weight, upper arm circumference) was collected from patient records.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong></p> <p>All participants (n=31) breastfed and a majority of the mothers were planning to breastfeed until the child reached 18 months old. No mother among the participants practiced EBF for the recommended 6 months because of the common practice of prelacteal feeding, where solid or liquid foods were introduced before 6 months of age. Most participants stated that they were instructed on how to feed their child by a close relative such as their mother or sister, while health professionals rarely gave such instructions.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p> <p>Exclusive breastfeeding is not a common practice among mothers in Niamey. Even though many breastfeed their infant for a relatively long duration, the participants disclosed that they often feed their infants solid and liquid foods before they reach the recommended age for complementary feeding, and sometimes within 48 hours after birth. Study results may inform the development of breastfeeding education components in clinics where mothers attend pre and postnatal consultations.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/976Conceptual triple E model for sustainable food security: A solution-based framework for hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria2023-12-31T22:36:31-07:00Ibrahim Abdulwaliyuabdulwaliyui@yahoo.comStanley IR Okoduwasirokoduwa@gmail.comShefiat O Arekemasearekemaseshefiatolayemi@yahoo.comMusa L Batarimusalatayo@gmail.com<p>Food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition have been a global challenge, particularly among low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Despite international donors’ interventions, the number of food insecure households, hunger, and malnutrition keep increasing, though exacerbated by the security challenges in Nigeria. Nigeria ranked 107th out of 113 countries on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), and the level of hunger in Nigeria remains considerably serious, as Nigeria also ranks 109th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI). Owing to these challenges, the Nigerian government has instituted policies and programmes to boost food production, yet the issue of food insecurity persists due to poor implementation. Failure of policies and programmes is principally due to the so-called NO-STEP syndrome-no sincerity or transparency in the execution of policies. Furthermore, there have not been structures that could provide a basis for the formulation of the policies and also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their implementation. Therefore, this study outlines a conceptual “Triple E (Evaluation, Education, and Empowerment) framework”. The goal is to strengthen rural agricultural activities for adequate food production, a sure pathway to achieving food security and hunger reduction. Furthermore, considering the increasing number of malnourished children in Nigeria, the Triple E also entails a novel initiative, SIT-250/4/1 (survey, identify, and treat 250 thousand malnourished under five children, every quarter per year), and if adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, it could help reduce significantly, in the shortest possible time, the number of malnourished children in Nigeria.</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/994Answers to three questions from Alan Berg: Observations from Malawi on poverty, nutrition, and food environments2023-12-31T22:36:20-07:00Anna W Herforthanna@annaherforth.net2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/article/view/977Mindsets really shifting?2023-12-31T22:36:30-07:00claudio schuftanschuftan@gmail.com<p>This is a response to the Shifting Mindsets piece in the Sept 30 issue of WN</p>2023-12-31T00:00:00-07:00##submission.copyrightStatement##