To investigate if high cassava production levels indicate high consumption and high dietary cyanide exposure in three villages situated within the area of Nigeria with higher cassava production than predicted by a geographic model for cassava production in Africa.

Exploratory assessment of: cassava production and processing by qualitative research methods and quantification of residual cyanogens in products; cassava consumption by food frequency and weighed food records and dietary cyanide exposure by urinary thiocyanate and linamarin.

Rural communities of Afuze, Ebue and Ofabo in mid-west Nigeria.

110 subjects from 42 households in three villages for food frequency interviews; 118 subjects in nine Ofabo households for weighed food records.

Cassava cultivation was reported to have increased in the preceding 20 years. It was consumed daily by 37 (88%) households, but its mean contribution to daily energy intake was only 13% (SD = 10). The range of residual cyanogens in cassava foods was 0 to 62 mg HCN equivalent/kg dry weight (dw). Ten samples (19%) had levels above the 10 mg HCN equivalent/kg dw FAO/WHO safety limit. Mean urinary thiocyanate and linamarin were 51 (SD = 35) and 20 (SD = 11) μmol/L, indicating low cyanogen intake and dietary cyanide exposure.

High cassava production levels did not result in high consumption and high dietary cyanide exposure levels, therefore cassava production levels cannot be used to predict consumption or cyanide exposure levels in the study area. A large part of the production is explained by intensive sales.

To examine the relationship between the nutritional status and handgrip strength of older people in rural Malawi.

Cross-sectional study.

Lilongwe rural, Malawi, situated approximately 35–50 km from the city.

Ninety seven males and 199 females participated in this study.

Selected anthropometric measurements were taken and nutrition indices were computed using standard equations. Handgrip strength was measured using an electronic grip strength dynamometer.

The mean handgrip strength (in kg) for men was significantly higher than for women (28.0±5.9 vs. 21.7±4.5). In addition, there was a significant decline in handgrip strength with age in both sexes. Furthermore, handgrip strength was positively correlated to the following nutritional status indicators: BMI (r = 0.40 in males and r = 0.34 in females), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (r = 0.45 in males and r = 0.38 in females) and arm-muscle area (AMA) (r = 0.39 in males and r = 0.37 in females). After controlling for potential confounders, namely sex, height and age, the correlations between handgrip strength and the nutrition indices were still significant.

The results of this study support the hypothesis that poor nutritional status is associated with poor handgrip strength. Malawian males had both lower handgrip strength and lower arm muscle area than their counterparts from industrialised countries. However, Malawian females had similar handgrip strength despite lower arm muscle area, in comparison with women from industrialised countries, reflecting perhaps their higher level of physical activity. Further studies are required to determine whether by alleviating nutritional problems a concomitant improvement in handgrip strength can be obtained.

To investigate the accuracy of self-reported weight of overweight and obese women and characterisation of under-, correct- and over-reporters based on a number of related variables.

Weight was self-reported before entering the study. At baseline, actual weight was recorded, and demographic, health, nutritional, psychological and physical activity questionnaires were completed.

A hospital outpatient department.

Participants were 131 women aged 18–64 years with a body mass index (BMI)≥ 28 attending a Comprehensive Weight Management Programme.

The accuracy of self-reported weight was investigated for the total group, and the subjects were then categorised into three groups according to accuracy of self-reported weight (under-, correct- and over-reporters). The relationship between these accuracy groups and demographic, health, nutritional, and psychological variables and physical activity was examined, to characterise the under-, correct- and over-reporters.

Although not statistically significantly different, the total group of women tended to underestimate their weight by 0.8 (±3.6) kg. Categorisation according to the accuracy groups revealed that 29% underestimated their weight by 2 kg or more, 19% overestimated their weight by 2 kg or more, and only 52% correctly estimated their weight within 2 kg. Some trends and statistically significant differences between the accuracy groups concerning certain variables, e.g. height, age, income, education, contraceptive pill usage, smoking and food choices were evident.

Self-reported weight of a group of overweight/obese individuals may be a valid and reliable indicator of actual weight, but self-reported weight of an overweight/obese individual can not be interpreted similarly. Further research is necessary to ensure reliable characterisation of under-, over- and correct reporters.

The way in which nutrition knowledge transforms into dietary behaviour and nutrient intake may vary among populations. Therefore, the goal of the study was to examine whether nutrition knowledge is associated with nutritional intake in middle-aged men who are at major risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cross-sectional population study aimed at comparing the response to a nutrition quiz with food habits and nutrient intake determined by a 3-day food record.

Men of the Urban Community of Lille (France) examined at home.

361 men aged 45–64 y, randomly selected from the electoral rolls.

Subjects were separated in a high-score (n = 59) and a low-score (n = 41) group according to their responses to the nutrition quiz. Subjects in the high-score group had better educational and higher income levels than those from the low-score group. Multivariate analysis, adjusting on educational and socio-economic levels and other confounding variables – such as age, body mass index, cigarette smoking, physical activity and energy intake underreporting – showed that subjects in the high-score group were more often consumers of olive oil (36 vs. 12%; p = 0.06), cheese (85 vs. 76%; p<0.01) or cereals (27 vs. 15%; p<0.04) and less often consumers of sunflower oil (51 vs. 68%; p<0.02) or dry vegetables (12 vs. 22%; p<0.05) than those in the low-score group. Subjects in the high-score group had lower intakes of fat (89±24 vs. 104±38 g/d; p = 0.04) and especially of monounsaturated fat of animal origin (23±9 vs. 29±13 g/d; p = 0.01) than individuals in the low-score group.

Nutrition quiz score is associated with specific patterns of food choices and nutrient intake suggesting that nutrition knowledge influences dietary behaviour in middle-aged men from Northern France.

To present disparities in consumption of vegetables and fruits in Europe and to discuss how educational level, region and level of consumption influence the variation.

A review of selected studies from 1985 to 1997.

33 studies (13 dietary surveys, nine household budget surveys and 11 health behaviour surveys) representing 15 European countries were selected based on criteria developed as part of the study. Association between educational level and consumption of vegetables and fruits was registered for each study and common conclusions were identified.

In the majority of the studies, with the exception of a few in southern and eastern Europe, consumption of vegetables and fruits was more common among those with higher education. The results suggest that in regions where consumption of vegetables and fruits is more common, the lower social classes tend to consume more of these than the higher social classes.

The differences in the patterns of disparities in vegetable and fruit consumption between regions, as well as within populations, need to be considered when efforts to improve nutrition and health are planned.

To apply structural equation modelling (SEM) and estimation of variance components to the relative validation data obtained from the quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) used in the Transition, Health and Urbanisation in South Africa (THUSA) study.

A cross-sectional study.

A community-based field study in an African population conducted during 1996.

Residents of the North West Province, South Africa, aged between 15 and 65 years.

Relative validity of the QFFQ was tested against 7-day weighed food records, 24-hour urinary nitrogen (UN) excretion and estimated basal metabolic rate (BMR). SEM and estimation of variance components were applied to the log-transformed energy, protein, fat, calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C intakes. UN excretion was used as a biomarker in the application of the SEM to protein and estimated BMR to energy intakes.

Constant bias (αQ) derived by the SEM varied from 0.85 (vitamin C) to 5.8 (energy). There was significant proportional bias for all nutrients except vitamin C. Validation coefficients (ρ(Q, T )) varied from 0.3 (fat, calcium, iron) to 0.7 (vitamin C). The inclusion of estimated BMR in the SEM for energy increased ρ(Q, T ) from 0.38 to 0.42. The estimation of variance components gave slightly lower correlations for the relationship between intakes from the QFFQ and the unknown true intake.

Robust statistical methods were successfully applied in a relative validation study for a QFFQ in an African population. Estimated BMR as a biomarker for energy intake produced more meaningful results than UN excretion as a biomarker for protein intake.

To develop and assess the reproducibility of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) sensitive to the culture of the African population of the North West Province, South Africa.

A cross-sectional study.

A community-based field study in a population stratified according to level of urbanization from deep rural to urban upper class.

A total of 144 (99 women and 45 men) residents of the North West Province, aged between 15 and 65 years, participated in the study.

A culture-sensitive, 145-item interviewer-administered QFFQ was designed to cover the whole diet. Portion sizes were estimated from a food portion photograph book (FPPB) showing foods in three portion sizes. The QFFQ was administered twice, 6–12 weeks apart.

Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the two administrations varied from 0.14 for calcium to 0.75 for alcohol. The mean percentage difference between intakes was 8.5 (standard deviation = 9.9). Energy, protein, carbohydrate and calcium gave differences within 10%. Few significant differences among correlation coefficients or percentage difference for gender, age group or strata of urbanization were present. Bland–Altman plots showed significant proportional bias for protein, fibre and vitamin C. More than 70% of the participants were classified into adjacent quintiles for all nutrients. For food groups, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.25 for milk to 0.45 for vegetable and maize meal groups and 80% of participants were classified into adjacent quintiles.

The QFFQ appeared to be a reproducible dietary intake assessment instrument.

To determine the relative validity of the culture-sensitive quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) developed for the Transition, Health and Urbanisation in South Africa (THUSA) study by 7-day weighed food records, urinary nitrogen excretion and basal metabolic rate (BMR).

A cross-sectional study.

A community-based study in a population stratified according to level of urbanization.

Residents of the North West Province, South Africa, aged between 15 and 65 years. The weighed food record study comprised 74 participants while 104 participants collected 24-hour urine samples.

All participants were interviewed using the QFFQ. For the weighed food record study, participants kept detailed weighed food diaries for seven consecutive days. For the urinary nitrogen study, participants made one 24-hour urine collection. Completeness of the urine collections was checked against 240 mg para-aminobenzoic acid. BMR was estimated by the Schofield equations.

Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the QFFQ and weighed food record ranged between 0.14 (fibre) and 0.59 (vitamin C). The QFFQ tended to underestimate intakes compared with the weighed records. Quintile distributions were similar for both methods. The correlation between urinary nitrogen excretion and dietary intake was poor. Possible underreporting was identified for 43% of the participants with the QFFQ and 28% with the weighed food record.

The QFFQ appeared to be a relatively valid instrument for the assessment of dietary intakes of the population of the North West Province. The use of biomarkers in this population was difficult and needs further investigation.

To develop and validate a new dietary assessment tool, the focused recall, and to use this to measure co-consumption of carotenoid-containing fruits and vegetables with savory snacks.

Participants completed a telephone-administered focused recall and a 24-hour recall on the same day. We compared mean estimates of fruit, vegetable, savory snack and carotenoid consumption from both instruments. We also assessed the ability of each method to measure co-consumption of carotenoids with full-fat, reduced/non-fat and olestra-containing savory snacks.

Data are from 245 male and 244 female adult participants in the Olestra Post-Marketing Surveillance Study (OPMSS).

The mean (± SD) intake of fruit was 1.8 (1.1) servings day−1 from the focused recall and 1.6 (1.4) servings day−1 from the 24-hour recall (r = 0.56). The mean vegetable intake was 2.1 (1.3) and 2.2 (1.7) servings day−1 (r = 0.42), respectively, from each instrument. Estimates of total carotenoid and β-carotene intake were within 5% of each other (r = 0.63 for total carotenoids and r = 0.70 for β-carotene). Both instruments estimated that approximately 14% of total daily carotenoids were co-consumed with savory snacks (r = 0.63).

The focused recall provides valid information about fruit, vegetable and savory snack consumption and allows researchers to examine associated eating patterns more easily.

To estimate the prevalence and severity of anaemia among non-pregnant women in rural Bangladesh and describe its social distribution.

A cross-sectional study conducted in February–March 1996. Haemoglobin concentration was measured on a capillary blood sample by cyanmethaemoglobin method. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification was used to define anaemia.

Twelve randomly selected villages in Fulbaria thana of Mymensingh district, about 110 km northwest of Dhaka city in Bangladesh.

A systematically selected sample of 179 non-pregnant apparently healthy women aged 15–45 years.

Anaemia was highly prevalent (73%; 95%CI 67–79%). Most of the women had mild (52%) or moderate (20%) anaemia, but a few of them suffered from severe anaemia (1%). Ascaris was common (39%) while hookworm was not (1%). The anaemia prevalence had no statistically significant association with age, parity or Ascaris infestation (P>0.05). Women with less than 1 year of schooling, who were landless or who reported having an economic deficit in the household had significantly higher prevalence of anaemia (P<0.05). There was a significantly increasing trend in anaemia prevalence with decreasing socioeconomic situation (SES). However anaemia was common in all social strata.

Although the overall anaemia prevalence among non-pregnant rural women is high, only a few women suffer from severe anaemia. Women of all SES groups irrespective of their age and parity are affected by anaemia.