Y. S. Sivan ¹, Y. Alwin Jayakumar ¹, C. Arumughan ¹, A. Sundaresan ¹, A. Jayalekshmi ¹, K. P. Suja ¹, D. R. Soban Kumar ¹, S. S. Deepa ¹, Malathi Damodaran ², C. S. Soman ³, V. Raman Kutty ³, P. Sankara Sarma ⁴

Affiliations
1 Regional Research Laboratory (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), Trivandrum-695 019, IN
2 Sri Sathya Sai Trust Hospital, Trivandrum - 695 013, IN
3 Health Action by People, Pettah, Trivandrum - 695 024, IN
4 Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies (Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology), Trivandrum - 695 011, IN

Abstract

Socioeconomic status (SES) plays a vital role in the overall nutritional status and growth performance of people, particularly during childhood and adolescence, the periods that influence the entire life cycle. Socioeconomic environment (including nutritional and health inputs) is the ultimate determinant of growth and development of human organism; opportunities available for acquisition of skills, social placement in life and the quality of life enjoyed as an individual or community member.

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Y. Alwin Jayakumar ¹, Y. S. Sivan ¹, C. Arumughan ¹, A. Sundaresan ¹, A. Jayalekshmi ¹, D. R. Soban Kumar ¹, K. P. Suja ¹, S. S. Deepa ¹, Malathi Damodaran ², C. R. Soman ¹, V. Raman Kutty ³, P. Sankara Sarma ⁴

Affiliations
1 Regional Research Laboratory [Council for Scientific and Industrial Research], Thiruvananthapuram - 695019, IN
2 Sri Sathya Sai Trust Hospital, Trivandrum - 695 013, IN
3 Health Action by People, Pettah, Trivandrum - 695 024, IN
4 Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies [Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology], Trivandrum-695 011, IN

Abstract

Acceptability of red palm oil-incorporated food supplements among preschool children have been established through field trials in India and elsewhere. The importance of RPO supplementation among preschool children acquired much significance due to its richness in β-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. Supplementation of β-carotene through RPO for enhancing vitamin A status and preventing vitamin A deficiency, apart from re-establishing the oil's acceptability has been reported.

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Y. Alwin Jayakumar ¹, Y. S. Sivan ¹, C. Arumughan ¹, A. Sundaresan ¹, C. Balachandran ¹, Joseph Job ¹, S. S. Deepa ¹, S. L. Shahina ¹, Malathi Damodaran ², C. R. Soman ³, V. Raman Kutty ⁴, P. Sankara Sarma ⁵

Affiliations
1 Regional Research Laboratory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Trivandrum 695 019, IN
2 Sri Sathya Sai Trust Hospital, Trivandrum 695 013, IN
3 Regional Research Laboratory Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Trivandrum 695 019, IN
4 Health Action by People, Pettah, Trivandrum 695 024, IN
5 Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies (Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology), Trivandrum 695 011, IN

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is a major nutritional deficiency in third world countries such as Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Indonesia, India and Nepal. It is prevalent in many Indian States such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar and West Bengal. It is the result of insufficient - quantitative and/or qualitative - intake of food and therefore, is an example for social and economic deprivation affecting health. The most dangerous health consequence of vitamin A deficiency is blindness: deficiency affects the corneal epithelium leading ultimately to keratomalacia and opacities. But long before such manifestation become obvious, there are warning signs such as dryness of the conjunctiva (xerosis), Bitot's spots, etc.

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Parvathi Rau ¹, Krishna Kumari Menon ¹, Malathi Damodaran ¹

Affiliations
1 National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jamai - Osmania P.O. Hyderabad-500 007, IN

Abstract

Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is an important public health problem among the pre-school children in our country- While poor dietary intake caused by poverty and/or lack of knowledge about proper feeding, is the main causative factor, recurrent infection, particularly of the gastrointestinal tract is a major contributory factor.

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Krishnakumari Menon ¹, Parvathi Rau ², Malathi Damodaran ¹, A. Nadamuni Naidu ¹

Affiliations
1 National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jamai-Osmania (P. O.), Hyderabad-7, IN
2 National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jamai-Osmania (P. O.), Hyderabad-7, ID

Abstract

Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is an important public health problem among infants and young children. Though poverty is recognised by far as the most important factor responsible for the widespread prevalence of this malady, faulty feeding habits arising out of ignorance often lead to inadequate intake of essential nutrients by this segment of the population.

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