Bangladesh Journal of Nutrition

Editor's Note

Prof. Dr. Sheikh Nazrul Islam

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Food Security and the Role of Biotechnology

Parag Palit

Biotechnological approaches are given a greater significance as they continue to show promising potential to facilitate
food security. These biotechnologies may consist of manipulation and interference in plant breeding (Marker-assisted plant
breeding, mutational breeding) genetically manipulating the crop themselves (GM foods), or even just influencing the
environmental factors to bring about the desired changes in the crop production (use of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides).
Some of the greater benefits such as, increased crop yield, enhanced nutritional quality, upgraded ability to adapt and survive,
and lengthened shelf-life brought about by these techniques are making developing countries including Bangladesh lean
heavily towards the increased commercialization of biotech crops. Even amidst strong oppositions and a few limitations, the
popularity of Bt brinjal and the continual development of many biotech rice varieties in Bangladesh alone, further substantiate
the favourability of biotech crops and their potential to better the situation favouring both the environment and the economy.

Analyzing the Determinants of Child Nutrition in Rural Bangladesh: Application of Quantile Regression

Mahbub Hossain

Despite recent success in achieving major development goals, Bangladesh still lags behind in respect of reducing
the incidence of child undernutrition which usually causes illness, poor physical and cognitive development,
or even death. Recognizing the importance of child nutrition stated in the Sustainable Development Goals, the
Government of Bangladesh is keen on making success in reducing child malnutrition in the country, especially
in the rural areas. In this respect, it is imperative to understand what determines child nutrition and whether or
not the child nutrition determining factors exert similar effects at different points of the distribution of child
nutrition. By using data from three rounds of a nationally representative rural household survey, this paper
finds that child’s gender, age, and birth weight, parents’ education and their health, household’s socioeconomic
status, and availability of local health care facility are crucial in determining child nutrition. Furthermore,
quantile regression results suggest that the effects of these determinants tend to vary across different points
of the nutritional status. Nonetheless, parents’ health and birth weight seem to have strong influence which is
consistent throughout the distribution of child nutritional status. Thus, the findings of this paper have policy
relevance, which is worthy of the attention of the national and international development partners in Bangladesh.

Nutrition-sensitive Food Systems: Brief Perspectives

Lalita Bhattacharjee

Food systems – covering the ‘production to the plate’ chain – comprise food production, processing, marketing, utilization,
and consumption. It facilitates peoples’ access to nutritious food in an adequate amount and variety necessary for
maintaining a healthy life, irrespective of age, gender, culture, and social stratum. Food systems also address people’s
access to information to facilitate their informed choice of food. To this end, food system elements and nutrition have
linkages that offer opportunities for policy priorities, programs, and strategies. The trends in hunger and food insecurity,
dietary consumption, and malnutrition appear to vary across the globe amidst the recurrent effects of global warming and
socio-political crises which pose challenges for many developing countries to achieve the SDG 2.1 target. There is a need for
strengthening the linkages between sustainable healthy diets for nutrition and between food systems and nutrition along with
addressing the alterations in food systems amidst urbanization and diet changes. Policy actions should leverage nutritionsensitive
agriculture and food systems with prospects for women, small holder farmers, and communities to improve diets
and nutrition.

Nutrition and Epidemiologic Transition on Body Composition and Dietary Pattern of Indigenous Children and Adolescents in Peninsular Malays

Sylvia Subapriya M

Malaysia has been undergoing rapid nutrition and drastic epidemiologic transition over the past two decades. This has
resulted in the evolution of synergistic existence between undernutrition, overnutrition and hidden hunger. The indigenous
population of Malaysia known as Orang Asli continues to experience hunger pandemic in spite of industrialisation and
economic growth. The objecctive of this study was to appraise the impact of nutrition and epidemiologic transition among
indigenous children and adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried among Semai Orang Asli children and adolescents
(6-18 years) in Perak. Population Proportion to Size (PPS) was adopted to the sample size samples (N=747) representative of
all districts in Perak. Demographic and socio-economic profile was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire, anthropometric
measurements were recorded using World Health Organization standard protocols and 24- hour recall method was used to
appraise the dietary pattern. Physical signs and symptoms for nutritional deficiencies were done with the help of trained
public health nurses. The results were analyzed using SPSS22.0 software to establish possible associations. The findings
showed that the incidence of underweight (2%) and malnutrition has declined significantly, with the emerging trends of
overweight (19%) and obesity (0.7%) among school children and adolescents. Protein and Energy Malnutrition, Vitamin
A, iron and iodine deficiencies, and dental fluorosis were commonly present among the study population. Poor inclusion
of fruits and vegetables, legumes, and dairy foods leads to poor dietary diversity among these children. Nutrition and the
epidemiologic transition has had a profound impact even on the indigenous population which warrants immediate attention
and intervention.

Bioavailability of Nutrients of Public Health Concern and their Association with the Animal/Plant Ratio in Diets of Female Residential Students of Bangladesh

Marjia Sultana

Students, particularly female students, living in university dormitories are susceptible to various nutritional
deficiencies due to their improper dietary practice and poor diet quality. Whether food originates from animal or
plant sources contributes greatly to the quality of their diets in terms of nutritional adequacy. This study made
a bioavailability assessment of four nutrients (vitamin A, iron, protein, and zinc) from students’ diets followed
by examining whether bioavailability relates to the animal/plant ratio (A/P) in the diets of female residential
students (FRS) of Bangladesh. Previously published dietary algorithms or conversion factors specific to different
food groups were used to assess nutrient bioavailability in the diets of 180 (60 for iron) FRS of the University of
Dhaka. Nutrient inadequacy was evaluated using i) an individual diet approach (estimating bioavailability from
individual diets), and ii) a dietary pattern approach (presuming average bioavailability for mixed diets). The mean
absorptions of iron and zinc, quality of protein, and conversion factor for β-carotene were 15.5%, 35.1%, 66.1%,
and 17:1, respectively. Among the individual diets, a large range in bioavailability was observed, which was
explained inadequately by their A/P. There was a significant difference in inadequacy prevalence when iron and
protein bioavailability from individual diets were compared with bioavailability estimates calculated applying
average conversion factors for mixed diets. The A/P could not necessarily predict the nutrient bioavailability
in FRS diets. Hence, it is important to consider the diet composition when evaluating nutrient adequacy in the
diets of FRS and other students.

Knowledge and Practice of Dietary Diversity among Pregnant Women: Evaluation of a Large Scale Social and Behaviour Change Program in Bangladesh

Abu Ahmed Shamim

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
supported large-scale social and behaviour change (SBC) intervention, SHIKHA Project, in improving dietary diversity
among pregnant women. Cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural southwest Bangladesh and 509, 515, and 1,275
randomly selected pregnant women were interviewed at baseline, midline, and end-line; 514 and 1016 pregnant women from
non-intervention areas were also included. SBC intervention was provided to pregnant women at both individual and group
levels by trained community health workers during the antenatal and postnatal period. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) and
knowledge scores were calculated by summing the number of food groups (from nine defined food groups) consumed by
women during 24 hours and from unprompted responses on how many food groups pregnant women should eat. The mean
knowledge score for dietary diversity was 5.04 at baseline and significantly increased by 1.68 units (95% CI: 1.51, 1.85) at
the end-line. The mean DDS at baseline was 4.28 and significantly increased by 0.45 units (95% CI: 0.34, 0.57) at the endline.
The SBC intervention was effective in improving the dietary diversity of pregnant women, which may help to meet their
additional nutritional requirements and improve pregnancy outcomes.

Health and Nutritional Implications of COVID-19: A Mini Review

Tasmia Tasnim

The COVID-19 outbreak is a worldwide hazard and a pandemic. It affects primarily the respiratory system of the infected
persons. The severity of infection depends on various factors such as individual health, age, lifestyle, gender, dietary habits,
environment, and medications. COVID-19’s catastrophic results are exacerbated by a high BMI and chronic conditions.
The study’s goal was to look at the effects of antioxidant foods on immune function and their possible involvement in
the treatment of COVID-19 infection. The human immune cell is always active, and the activity of the immune system
is improved when there is an infection requiring energy sources and substrates taken from the food. A range of vitamins
and trace minerals has been found to have crucial functions in enhancing immune function and decreasing the chance of
infection. The gut microbiota strives to empower and regulate the immune system. Dietary methods for achieving a healthy
microbiome can also improve the immune system. According to worldwide standards, the best way to maintain the immune
system is to consume a healthy balanced diet rich in plant and animal foods, as well as appropriate prebiotic and probiotic
prophylactic supplements.

Demographic and Regional Differences in Household Dietary Diversity in Bangladesh: Evidence from the 2010 Household Income and Expenditure Survey

Md. Akheruzzaman

The dietary diversity score is now being widely accepted as a tool to see the dietary intake pattern qualitatively.
This tool can be used for a rapid proxy measure of household food access of the population. As the Household
Income and Expenditure Survey of Bangladesh (HIES) are done routinely in many developing countries, this can
be a good source of dietary data for the field of nutrition research. The study endeavoured to measure household
dietary diversity scores (HDDs, 0-12) from a nationally representative population and frequency of food group
consumption for the Bangladeshi population at different spatial levels from the HIES, 2010 dataset. The study
found HDDs (Mean±SD) of 6.16±1.91 for Bangladeshi households. Households from Small Municipality Area
(SMA) showed the highest HDDs of 6.95±2.34 followed by municipality (6.61±2.04) and rural areas (5.87±1.72).
Chittagong and Sylhet division’s households’ diet is more diversified (7.09±2.12 and 6.95±1.83, respectively),
whereas the lowest HDDs are found in Rajshahi (5.71±1.68). Mean differences of HDDs significantly vary by
the education level of the mother, family size, number of earners, and religious status of the household. Overall,
the percentages of households with no intake of meat and poultry, fruits, and milk and milk products were
43.1%, 28.2%, and 48.6%, respectively, in the survey period of 14 days. HDDs varies significantly by region
and household characteristics. Animal-sourced foods (meat and poultry, milk and milk products, and eggs) and
fruits should be made more accessible through policies and programs at the household level across divisions
where consumption is low.

Fish and Fishery Products: Participation in the Demand for Nutrition from Animal Source to the People of Bangladesh

Md. Ismail Hossain

Among different food items, fish/fishery product is the healthier one. For maintaining sound health and extending life span,
along with fruits, vegetables, meat, fish/fishery products may contribute a lot. As a source of animal protein, healthy fat,
vitamins, and minerals, fish is a very good option. The country has 0.29 million ha of inland closed (culture) water fisheries
bodies along with littoral shrimp farms (National Fisheries Policy, 1998). It is also blessed with a territorial sea of more
than 118,813 square km of area including 200 nautical miles (NM) of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with all kinds of
living and non-living resources under the continental shelf up to 354 nautical miles from the Chittagong coast (MoFA,
2014). Fish and other aquatic organisms from these water bodies are being caught for internal consumption as well as for
export purposes. Mostly, this catch is sold as wet fish; some products are also prepared traditionally like dried, salted, and
fermented. Smoked, canned, fish mince-based value-added products are not prepared yet on a commercial basis. For better
utilization of the county’s catch and to contribute to the nutritional demand of the people it is necessary to take proper steps.
Several academic and scientific institutes of the country are being engaged in developing fishery products and observing their
storage possibilities. Here, findings of some researches performed on fish and fishery products in the Department of Fisheries
Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University are discussed.

The Treatment of Severe Wasting in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities

Sajia Mehjabeen