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Biomedical subjects

I Darnton-Hill

Publications and source records attributed to I Darnton-Hill.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

The challenge to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition.

OBJECTIVE: This paper takes a public health approach to examine briefly: (i) the global magnitude and consequences of deficiencies of iodine, vitamin A and iron; (ii) the intervention options for addressing the deficiencies and associated critical issues; (iii) roles of the main 'players' involved; (iv) current programs and results. METHOD: Analysis of the literature, especially that coming from the UN agencies; distillation of experience from the recently completed OMNI Project, and involvement in relevant international meetings. RESULTS: More than one in three individuals throughout the world are at risk of the health and development consequences of iron, vitamin A and/or iodine deficiencies. There has been a 40% decline in the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency over the last 10 years. More than 60% of all salt is now fortified with iodine. CONCLUSIONS: Significant progress has been made, particularly with the iodine deficiency disorders and vitamin A deficiency. Little apparent progress has been made with iron deficiency anaemia. IMPLICATIONS: National governments, UN multilateral agencies, international consultative groups, bilateral agencies, global and national non-governmental organisations, and increasingly, the private sector need to work together in looking for innovative approaches, especially for iron, increasing awareness of the broader social and public health nutrition context, and supporting increased international funding.

Global Health↗
PubMed1999

Iron and folate fortification in the Americas to prevent and control micronutrient malnutrition: an analysis.

Although there has been a remarkable decline in the proportion of malnourished children in Latin America, micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron deficiency anemia, remain significant public health problems. A substantial reduction in the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is an important goal for the end of the decade. Interest in fortifying wheat flour and dry-milled maize flour is thus growing, and significant experience in the fortification of flours with iron and the B vitamins, including folate, is emerging. It is necessary to ensure that fortification levels and standards, legislation, and quality assurance and control measures are in place nationally and harmonized regionally.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed1997

Developing industrial-governmental-academic partnerships to address micronutrient malnutrition.

Micronutrient malnutrition affects approximately 2 billion people and has a significant impact on mortality, morbidity, reproductive health, individual growth and development, and economic productivity. The World Bank has suggested that micronutrient interventions are among the most cost-effective of all health interventions. Therefore, greatly increased collaborative efforts are needed to bring about further reductions in micronutrient malnutrition. At the FAO/WHO International Conference on Nutrition, the importance of various partners in improving nutrition was recognized in the World Declaration on Nutrition and adopted unanimously by 159 governments: "Governments, academic institutions and industry should support the development of fundamental and applied research directed towards improving the scientific and technological knowledge base" for addressing malnutrition, including micronutrient malnutrition. Food-based strategies, including fortification, provide a good example.

Government↗
PubMed1996

Nutritional aspects of changes in disease patterns in the Western Pacific region.

One impact of socioeconomic progress on populations has been to reduce the number of cases due to diseases of undernutrition and microbial contamination of food, which affected mostly infants and young children, and to increase those due to diseases of excessive food consumption, which are affecting adults and a growing number of children. This article reviews the main dietary factors which have an influence on cardiovascular disease and cancer, and discusses the link between economic development and increased rates of chronic diseases. There is evidence that the noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors have risen rapidly in countries of the WHO Western Pacific Region. Data from 29 countries and areas in the region indicate that 70% of them show lifestyle diseases in three or more of the top five causes of death. While public health measures have been implemented by some countries to prevent and control nutrition-related chronic diseases, further action is needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Healthy aging and the quality of life.

The size of the elderly population, both in numbers and as a proportion of the whole, is increasing rapidly in most parts of the world. This trend, together with other deep changes in society, has made traditional ways of understanding and accommodating the aging process inadequate. Surveys suggest that economic security, psychosocial well-being, and a sense of being in reasonably good health are the most important values to aim for.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Vitamin supplementation and nutritional status in homeless men.

Homeless men and women are both physically and socially disadvantaged. Their nutritional status is also often compromised. In this sample of 107 homeless men in Sydney, about half reported taking vitamin supplements (with varying duration and regularity), usually a regimen consisting of thiamin, vitamin C, folic acid and a multivitamin-B-complex capsule. In this cross-sectional study, little effect could be seen on clinical health between those reporting taking vitamin supplementation and those not doing so. However, biochemical measurements showed significant differences. The numbers of men classified as deficient were higher by about 20 per cent for those reporting not taking vitamins. The mean biochemical levels were significantly better for the supplemented group for thiamin, as assessed by TPP per cent effect (P = 0.04), vitamin B6, as assessed by P5'P per cent effect (P = 0.002), vitamin C (P < 0.001) and blood folate (P < 0.02). Consequently, on the basis of mean biochemical levels of vitamin status, the supplemented group were better off and it is reasonable to presume that in the long term this would be reflected in improved clinical status.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Thiamin status of a sample of homeless clinic attenders in Sydney.

Thiamin is one of the marginally adequate nutrients in the Australian diet. The incidence and prevalence of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in this country may be the highest in the world. Homeless men could be at risk for low intakes of thiamin in association with irregular high alcohol intakes. A sample of 107 homeless men from two hostels and one clinic for homeless persons in inner Sydney was investigated for nutritional status; their thiamin status is reported here. By means of 24-hour recall methods, their mean dietary thiamin intake--0.76 mg per day--was less than the National Health and Medical Research Council's recommended dietary intake of 1.1 mg per day; at 0.076 mg/MJ it was even less than the minimal requirement of 0.08 mg/MJ. It was much lower than the mean intake of 1.38 mg per day that was found in the 1983 National Dietary Survey of adults and the distribution of thiamin intakes in this study was skewed positively, with the largest intake being in the range of 0-0.1 mg per day. On clinical examination we found a high prevalence of signs that were consistent with thiamin deficiency. Twenty-four per cent of the subjects showed three-or-more of the signs of the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy and global confusion). In assaying for red-cell transketolase levels, this subgroup showed higher thiamin pyrophosphate effects than did the whole sample. Thirty-six per cent of the whole sample showed subnormal thiamin status by the thiamin pyrophosphate effect. Thus, in this sample, homeless men showed a high prevalence of dietary, biochemical and clinical features to indicate subclinical or early clinical thiamin deficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Sociodemographic and health factors in the well-being of homeless men in Sydney, Australia.

Throughout the world, homelessness is generally increasing. This paper examines some of the historical precedents and, in an Australian sample, some of the factors leading to ill-health in this group. All studies have shown the ill-effects on health of being homeless and in this group drinking alcohol and length of time on skidrow appear to be the major factors. It is also suggested that the homeless are generally from comparatively disadvantaged backgrounds before becoming homeless, and more likely to be migrants. They were also less likely to have ever married and more likely to have been in jail or psychiatric institutions.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1987

Vitamin and iron status in new vegetarians.

This study assessed the biochemical status of a number of vitamins and iron in a group of new vegetarians. Values were compared with a group of omnivores of similar age. Satisfactory to high levels of serum folate, vitamin E, and riboflavin were found, and all were significantly higher in vegetarians than omnivores. Thiamin status was satisfactory in both groups although a small but statistically significant difference in favor of the omnivores was found. Serum vitamin B-12 was significantly lower in vegetarians, and iron status as measured by serum ferritin was very significantly lower in vegetarians. Pyridoxine status was similar in both groups. A number of sex differences were found in the vegetarian sample. New vegetarian women appear to be at particular risk of developing low iron stores.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Lactase deficiency in Australian school children.

The prevalence of lactase deficiency is high in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian countries, which suggests that many immigrants and immigrant children from these regions may be unable to produce lactase. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of lactose malabsorption in primary school-aged children, in two communities with a high proportion of immigrants in metropolitan Sydney. A total of 109 children, aged five to 12 years, were studied by means of the breath hydrogen method. Forty per cent (44/109) showed lactose malabsorption, as defined by a rise in end-expiratory hydrogen levels of 20 ppm or more, two hours after loading with lactose. The prevalence was highest in the subjects of Asian origin (93%; 14/15), followed by Greek subjects (56%; 14/25) and subjects from other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries (41%; 15/37). Of the 77 children who were available for follow-up, 57% (44) reported symptoms of lactose intolerance, of whom nearly two-thirds were children who showed lactose malabsorption. The high prevalence of lactase deficiency in children at both schools underlines the need to consider the multiracial identity of Australians in planning educational programmes about nutrition.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Urine mutagenicity as an indicator of exposure to dietary mutagens formed during cooking of foods.

Studies were undertaken with individuals fed fried bacon meals to determine whether fruit or vegetables, ingested along with bacon, modified uptake and subsequent excretion of bacon mutagen(s). Urinary mutagenic activity was significant in those who had consumed bacon or mixed bacon/vegetable or bacon/fruit meals within the previous 2 to 3 hr period. Although urine activity varied by a factor of 4 among 15 subjects who consumed different meals, there was no evidence from this investigation that fruit or vegetables contributed to the inherent variability in total urinary mutagenic activity. However, some differences in excretion kinetics may be attributable to vegetable or fruit supplements in mixed meals.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Goat's milk and infant feeding.

As goat's milk becomes more popular in Australia, clinicians are being asked about its suitability as an infant feed. The popularity of goat's milk in part comes from unsubstantiated claims that it is less allergenic and more digestible than is cow's milk. Raw goat's milk is used by those who believe that pasteurization is detrimental, although the risks of consuming unpasteurized milk have been well documented and recent reports have warned about the dangers of feeding unmodified goat's milk to infants. If goat's milk is to be fed to infants it should be pasteurized or boiled, diluted to reduce solute load, and then fortified with vitamins. Although these modifications do not produce an ideal milk, they do minimize the risks of using goat's milk as an infant feed.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Lactose malabsorption in Australian Aboriginal children.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of lactose malabsorption in healthy full-blood Australian Aboriginal children. Sixty-three Aboriginal subjects and forty-six non-Aboriginal controls ranging in age from six to 14 years were tested using the breath hydrogen method. Seventy percent of the Aboriginal subjects were found to be lactose malabsorbers and 9% of the controls. The results provide strong evidence that the majority of full-blood Aboriginal children are lactose malabsorbers and that the characteristic is well-established by 6-7 years of age, in common with most other non-Western populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Dietary patterns of elderly people living in inner Sydney.

The dietary intakes of an elderly non-institutionalized population in inner metropolitan Sydney were collected and analysed. Participants in the study (n = 124) had their midday meal at either an Activity Centre or at home (Meals-on-Wheels Organization). The dietary data was collected over 4 days. Heights and weights and some sociological data were also obtained. The study indicated that a significant proportion of this population may be at nutritional risk, and that this was particularly so for males receiving Meals-on-Wheels.

Aged↗