Nutrition Information Resources

The Sphere Handbook Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response is now available online as a micro website.

To access the Handbook, please click here.

New Publication: Women Farmers Adapting to Climate Change: Four examples from three continents of women's use of local knowledge in climate change adaptation, by Seith Abeka, Saudia Anwer, Vinod Bhatt, Stanley Bii, Betty Prissy Muasya, Amrita Rejina Rozario, Gregorio Valverde, Omar Alejandro Varillas Vilchez (June 2012).

Case Study India: Biodiversity-based organic farming with climate resilient crops
Case Study Bangladesh: Increasing responsibility of women for agricultural production
Case Study Kenya: Gender inequality exacerbates the impact of climate change on women and girls
Case Study Peru: Climate Change and Gender in Peru's Apurimac Region

In this context, the measures applied by women to cope with climate change take advantage of and partly reinforce existing climate-friendly tendencies. The measures described in all case studies are:
•  Use of local seeds and crops which tolerate extreme conditions such as heat, drought, cold or flooding;
•  Diversification of the production system to reduce the risk of losing the harvest which can happen if just one or two major crops are planted;
•  Use of plants and herbs to protect or cure crops and animals against insects and disease;s
•  Postponement of the time for planting and sowing of crops when rains are late.

To read the publication, please click here.

 

The following article was published in the Food and Nutrition Bulletin, vol. 33, no.2: Relative efficacy of micronutrient powders versus iron-folic acid tablets in controlling anemia in women in the second trimester of pregnancy (Nuzhat Choudhury, Ashley Aimone, S. M. Ziauddin Hyder, and Stanley H. Zlotkin).

Abstract

Background. Iron deficiency is a major cause of anemia and the most prevalent nutrient deficiency among pregnant women in developing countries. The use of iron and folic acid supplements to treat and prevent iron deficiency anemia has limited effectiveness, mainly due to poor adherence. Home fortification with a micronutrient powder for pregnant women may be an effective and acceptable alternative to traditional drug models.

Objective. To determine whether home fortification with micronutrient powders is at least as efficacious as iron and folic acid tablets for improving hemoglobin concentration in pregnant women.

Methods. A cluster-randomized noninferiority trial was conducted in the rural subdistrict of Kaliganj in central Bangladesh. Pregnant women (gestational age 14-22 weeks, n = 478), were recruited from 42 community-based Antenatal Care Centres. Each centre was randomly allocated to receive either a micronutrient powder (containing iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and zinc) or iron and folic acid tablets. Changes in hemoglobin from baselinewere compared across groups using a linear mixed-effects regression model.

Results. At enrolment, the overall prevalence of anemia was 45% (n = 213/478). After the intervention period, the mean hemoglobin concentrations among women receiving the micronutrient powder were not inferior to those among women receiving tablets (109.5 ± 12.9 vs 112.0 ± 11.2 g/L; 95% CI, -0.757 to 5.716). Adherence to the micronutrient powder was lower than adherence to tablets (57.5 ± 22.5% vs 76.0 ± 13.7%; 95% CI, -22.39 to -12.94); however, in both groups, increased adherence was positively correlated with hemoglobin concentration.

Conclusions. The micronutrient powder was at least as efficacious as the iron and folic acid tablets in controlling moderate to severe anemia during pregnancy.

To access the article, please click below.

A new FSN Forum publication is now available: The Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition - Online discussions that make a difference.

This special publication showcases some of the FSN Forum's most significant discussions in recent years, on central topics and trends in food security, nutrition, and beyond. From food security concepts to climate change, and from street foods to global governance, see what happens when you "do knowledge sharing right".

To download the publication please click on the link below or request your hard copy from FSN-moderator@fao.org.  

As governments, donors, and other key actors deepen their commitments to improve food security and reduce poverty, they are increasingly focusing on how successful development interventions can be scaled up, i.e., expanded, replicated, and adapted to new and different contexts, for greater and sustained impact.  The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has assembled the document "Scaling Up in Agriculture, Rural Development, and Nutrition". This is a compilation of 20 policy briefs that contribute to better understanding the different pathways for scaling up, the drivers that push the scaling up process forward, and the spaces that enable initiatives to be scaled up. The briefs draw on the experiences of a wide range of actors to explore:
 

• The role of rural community engagement
• The importance of value chains
• The intricacies of scaling up nutrition interventions
• The lessons learned from institutional approaches
• The experiences of international aid donors.

The HarvestPlus 2011 Annual Report is now available.

To download a copy of the report from the HarvestPlus website, please click here or to view it online in magazine format, click here.

This report will give you a glimpse into the 2011 HarvestPlus achievements and provide a benchmark against which to assess the progress in developing, testing, and delivering nutritious food crops.  You will learn more about Benard, a farmer in Zambia who is testing vitamin A maize, and Alamgir, a breeder developing zinc-rich rice in Bangladesh, an take a look at the world of plant sex and the difference between provitamin A and vitamin A.

 A new UNICEF-WHO note, "Integrating Early Childhood Development (ECD) activities into Nutrition Programmes in Emergencies" seeks to answer the following three questions:

(a) Why is it critical to integrate ECD into nutrition interventions in food-crisis settings? 
(b) What are the entry points and interventions for effectively integrating ECD into nutrition programmes? 
(c) How can this be done in emergency settings? The note also refers to additional resources   that you might find helpful for your current work.

The document was written for local and international staff running nutrition programmes in emergencies, and for local, regional and national authorities and donors involved in such programmes.

Please click below to access the document. 
 

Oxfam India and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) have just released a new Food Justice bulletin, "Standing on the Threshold: Food Justice in India", which examines the issues of food security and the right to food in India. Despite enormous growth in economic and political power, 46 per cent of Indian children are malnourished, and 1 in 3 of the world's hungry live in India. Yet India stands on the threshold of potentially the largest step towards food justice the world has ever seen, as the National Food Security Bill works its way through parliament with a view to being passed during its current term, covering about 70 per cent of households. The bulletin brings together the views of some of India's leading practitioners and academics, helping readers understand the challenges that these movements must address.

You may purchase the bulletin here.

It's Time To Act: Celebrating 10 Years of the WHO/UNICEF's Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding and 20 Years of the World Breastfeeding Week!

Free access to special issue of Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health

In Celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, the publisher of the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health is offering free access to their special issue (Volume 52, Issue 6) until the end of August 2012. This issue focuses on a variety of breastfeeding topics including new scientific research, essential education for breastfeeding mothers, problems that can interfere with lactation and breastfeeding, and the role of health professionals and initiatives to encourage breastfeeding. 

Access the special issue here. 

The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) maintains a list of 19 different knowledge summaries, each addressing a relevant issue related to Millennium Development Goals 4 (child mortality) and 5 (maternal health).

Most recently, they have released a knowledge summary on Food Security and Climate Change, linked to malnutrition in vulnerable women and children. As an example mentioned in the summary, the tropical region is currently home to 73% of the world's undernourished women and children (around 360 million). This is concerning since the tropical region may be the most adversely affected by climate change as it decreases rainfall and water availability, and subsequent food production. To deal with these issues, the PMNCH proposes mainstreaming climate change in health, nutrition and agriculture policies and programs to help address the threats and nutrition security.

To read the report, please click here. To consult the PMNCH website, please click here.

The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) maintains a list of 19 different knowledge summaries, each addressing a relevant issue related to Millennium Development Goals 4 (child mortality) and 5 (maternal health).

Recently, they have released a knowledge summary on Nutrition, highlighting the implications that both under and over nutrition can have on health. Mothers are particularly faced with many underlying challenges to fulfilling their nutritional needs including poverty, lack of education on healthy diets and infant care, poor access to a diverse variety of affordable, nutritious and safe foods, and inadequate healthcare and sanitation. To deal with these issues, the PMNCH proposes scaling up evidence-based, cost-effective solutions through the increase of political commitment and sustained financial investment.

To read the report, please click here. To consult the PMNCH website, please click here.

The following article was published in the journal Health Policy and Planning: The status of policy and programmes on infant and young child feeding in 40 countries (authors: Arun Gupta, Radha Holla, J P Dadhich, Shoba Suri, Marta Trejos and Joyce Chanetsa).

Abstract

Optimal breastfeeding not only saves the lives of children under 5 years, but also improves children's quality of life. In spite of proven benefits and repeated emphasis, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among children less than 6 months of age is only 36% globally. The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding provided a framework for action in 10 areas, and identified the need to assess the implementation of policies and programmes in order to identify gaps and to take action to bridge them. The authors utilized the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) tool to make such an assessment. The WBTi has been introduced in 81 countries and 40 of these had completed their assessment by April 2011. Their findings point out specific gaps in both the policy and programmes in all 10 areas of action identified by the tool. This shows that countries need to work in a co-ordinated manner, with clear plans and committed financial resources, to address gaps in all 10 areas of action. This can result in strong advocacy efforts as well as consensus-based action for the effective implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding to enhance rates of optimal feeding practices.

To read the article, click here.

The following article was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Olive oil intake and mortality within the Spanish population (authors: Genevieve Buckland, Ana Lucia Mayén, Antonio Agudo, et al.).

Abstract

Background: Olive oil consumption is associated with a decreased risk of several chronic diseases, in particular cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, data on the effects of olive oil on overall mortality are scarce.

Objective: To evaluate the association between olive oil and overall and cause-specific mortality in the Spanish population in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain).

Design: A total of 40,622 participants (62% female) aged 29-69 y were recruited from 5 Spanish regions in 1992-1996. The association between olive oil (analyzed as a categorical and continuous variable) and overall and cause-specific mortality (CVD, cancer, and other causes) was analyzed by using Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

Results: A total of 1915 deaths were reported during 13.4 y of follow-up; 416 CVD deaths, 956 cancer deaths, and 417 deaths from other causes (for 126 deaths the cause was not available). In comparison with nonconsumers, the highest quartile of olive oil consumption was associated with a 26% (95% CI: 13%, 36%) reduction in risk of overall mortality and a 44% (95% CI: 21%, 60%) reduction in CVD mortality. For each increase in olive oil of 10 g ⋅ 2000 kcal-1 ⋅ d-1, there was a 7% (95% CI: 3%, 10%) decreased risk of overall mortality and a 13% (95% CI: 6%, 20%) decreased risk of CVD mortality. No significant association was observed between olive oil and cancer mortality.

Conclusions: Olive oil was associated with a decreased risk of overall mortality and an important reduction in CVD mortality in this large Mediterranean cohort. This provides further evidence on the beneficial effects of one of the key Mediterranean dietary components.

Institute of Development Studies:

Analysing Nutrition Governance is a policy research project that looks behind standard nutrition indicators to find out why some countries achieve improved nutrition outcomes while others make insufficient progress. Based on evidence from Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Peru and Zambia, the project aims to inform nutrition policy and advocacy. The project is based at the Institute for Development Studies, UK.

A new policy briefing summarises the key lessons on nutrition governance for those working on nutrition policy and advocacy.

Find out more and download key resources at the Analysing Nutrition Governance website.
 
Contact IDS if you have questions.

Action Against Hunger has just released a new report, Aid for Nutrition, which provides donors, aid recipients and other stakeholders with a detailed analysis of current spending on nutrition and of the adequacy of current aid reporting systems. It also provides recommendations on what can be done to scale up the response to undernutrition effectively.

Investments in nutrition are currently inadequate with the majority of funding going towards direct nutrition interventions in response to humanitarian crises, reflecting the short term nature of aid for nutrition. Furthermore, nutrition aid is not always directed to countries with the highest burdens of undernutrition, many donors fail to honour all commitments, and poor donor reporting practices have hindered transparency and accountability. Based on their findings, Action Against Hunger recommends that donors must commit to aid transparency principles by improving reporting practices, that donors and governments increase their investments in direct or nutrition specific interventions, that the treatment and prevention of undernutrition be also targeted in non-emergency situations, and that an annual review of investments in nutrition be done to keep the paucity of funding for nutrition high on the political agenda.

To read the report, please click here. To consult the Action Against Hunger website, please click here.

The UNSCN is part of the steering group of this Forum, an information sharing mechanism which aims to bring together resources and initiatives related to the management of acute malnutrition. Please follow this link to become a member and access key resources on Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition: http://www.cmamforum.org/

8 August 2012, Rome - Immediate action to promote sustainable diets and food biodiversity so as to improve the health of humans and of the planet is urged in a book just published by FAO and Bioversity International.  Access the press release here.

In "Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity", prominent scientists, policy makers and practitioners discuss the linkages between agriculture, health, the environment and food industries. This groundbreaking publication explores the concepts of sustainable diets and how they relate to the production and consumption of the food we eat. Sustainable diets are foreseen as an important element for a shift towards sustainable development and a green economy and there is an urgent need to develop and promote strategies that emphasize the positive role of food biodiversity in human nutrition and poverty alleviation. 

To access the publication please click here.

Nutrition has increasingly been recognized as a basic pillar for social and economic development. For the accountability of nutrition related global movements, a monitoring progress towards agreed upon international targets is essential.

This publication presents the results of the harmonization effort and reports, for the first time, joint UNICEF-WHO-World Bank prevalence and number estimates of child malnutrition for 2011 and trends since 1990. Estimates for the four anthropometric indicators are presented by United Nations, Millennium Development Goal, UNICEF, WHO regional and The World Bank income group classifications.

To read the publication, please click below.

 A new book has been published within the IAEA Human Health Series: "Assessment of iron bioavailability in humans using stable iron isotope techniques".

To read the Publication please click below.

Researchers from Gent University and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp have assessed the effect of specialised energy dense food supplements in the framework of a general food distribution on the prevention of acute child malnutrition. This did not result in the expected outcome: children receiving the supplements were growing a little bit more in length, reported less episodes of diarrhoea and fever, and were less like to be anaemic. However, compared to children that received only the food rations, supplemented children did not gain more weight and had an equal risk to be become undernourished.

For further information, please click below. To read the publication, please click here.

Save the Children and World Vision presented their ‘Nutrition Barometer' during a panel discussion on stunting in children on 26 September, in New York. For the presentation of the Nutrition Barometer, an interesting panel was invited to provide comments, including Ertharin Cousins (Executive Director, WFP), David Nabarro (UN SG Special Representative for Food Security and Nutrition), Brendan Rogers (Director General, Irish Aid), and 2 panel members from Indonesia and Kenya. The discussion was moderated by Jasmine Whitbread (CEO, Save the Children).
 
The Barometer provides a snapshot of national governments' commitment to addressing children's nutrition. It measures governments' political and legal commitment as well as their financial commitment.
The document can be downloaded here.
 
WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, who was on the panel, took the opportunity to present her vision of the UN network's role in supporting national and global efforts to reduce undernutrition. Ms Cousins mentioned that "nutrition is not health or agriculture, but that it is both. We don't have the luxury of focusing on one sector; we have the obligation to deal with all."  Ms Cousins further added that the UN has the Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN) at the global level and REACH at the country level to support countries who are in the lead.

"Economic growth is necessary but not sufficient to accelerate reduction of hunger and malnutrition". This is the new key message of the FAO "The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012 ".

The State of Food Insecurity in the World raises awareness about global hunger issues, discusses underlying causes of hunger and malnutrition and monitors progress towards hunger reduction targets established at the 1996 World Food Summit and the Millennium Summit. The publication is targeted at a wide audience, including policy-makers, international organizations, academic institutions and the general public with a general interest in linkages between food security, and human and economic development.

The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012 is published jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme.

For more information, please contact: mailto:sofi@fao.org or visit the website.

You can download the report by clicking here.

For more details on the The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012, please click on the link below

Interesting compilation of articles on hunger and malnutrition, spanning the last 30 years from  Michael Lipton, Margaret Buchanan-Smith, Mona Sharma, Paul Howe, Jeremy Swift, Richard Longhurst, Simon Maxwell, Ian Scoones, Stephen Devereux, John Thompson, Biraj Swain, Geoff Tansey and Harsh Mander and others.

All the articles in this IDS publication are available online and free of charge.

To download click here.

The State of Food and Agriculture, FAO's major annual flagship publication, aims at bringing to a wider audience balanced science-based assessments of important issues in the field of food and agriculture. Each edition of the report contains a comprehensive, yet easily accessible, overview of a selected topic of major relevance for rural and agricultural development and for global food security. This is supplemented by a synthetic overview of the current global agricultural situation.

For more information, please contact Terri Raney or visit the website.

The publication can be downloaded here.

For more details on The State of Food and Agriculture 2012, please click on the link below