Objective To determine the effects of magnesium supplementation in pregnancy on the incidence of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).Design A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study.Setting A Midwife Obstetric Unit and its two referral hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa.Population A group of 4494 black pregnant women of low socioeconomic status.Method Mothers, from the time of booking until delivery, were randomised to receive two identical tablets daily, containing either 128 mg slow-release magnesium stearate or lactose sugar.Main outcome measures Primary: The incidence of HIE. Secondary: The incidence of fetal heart rate decelerations, term Stillbirths, Low Apgar Scores, Meconium Aspiration Pneumonia.Results The incidence of HIE (0.9%) was considerably less than anticipated (2%). There were 22 infants in the placebo group and 15 infants in the supplemented group (P = 0.279). The difference was not significant.Secondary outcomes such as late fetal heart rate decelerations (P = 0.002) and term stillbirths (P = 0.016) were reduced significantly in the supplemented group, but this finding needs further substantiation.Conclusions Magnesium supplementation did not reduce the incidence of HIE significantly, probably because the study was underpowered and compliance was relatively poor.

The effects of the association between the root-lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus brachyurus and P. zeae, and the root-rot fungus, Fusarium moniliforme, on maize growth, root-rot severity and root-lesion nematode population were studied under greenhouse conditions. Five inoculation treatments were applied and the effects monitored over 12 weeks. The results demonstrated that the root-lesion nematodes and the fungus affected plant growth more when combined than when alone, and were most severe during the seedling stage. Root-rot severity fluctuated during the experiment and significant differences between the treatments could only be found from 4 weeks following planting. The presence of the fungus facilitated the attraction and/or penetration of the root-lesion nematodes into the roots of the maize seedlings.

The research study was undertaken to determine the food that students on the financial assistance program at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, could buy on campus. Students on this program can buy food from six food outlets on campus from their daily allowance. The types of foods sold were mostly sugar-containing products. The availability of healthy food choices should be promoted in an environment where food assistance programs are offered to students. Objectives: Enrolment at institutions of higher learning is associated not only with poor eating habits, but also food insecurity. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine the food environment for students on the financial assistance programme at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. Study population and sample: Six food outlets providing food for students on the food assistance programme. Methods: All food items sold at the specified outlets were recorded using a store audit form. Results: The food outlets allocated to the recipients were two take-away food outlets, three cafeterias and one tuck shop. Of the food items sold at these outlets, only 1% was classified as dairy. Sugar-containing products represented 29.2% of the food items sold, followed by starches (19.3%) and protein-containing foods (18.6%). Conclusion:The quality and diversity of foods available on campuses should be considered when implementing food assistance programs.

Background The importance of adequate choline intake during pregnancy has been well documented, but low intake is common. Total choline intake, main food sources of choline, as well as associations between choline intake and egg and dairy consumption were determined in a sample of pregnant women attending the high-risk antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. Trained fieldworkers collected dietary intake data using a validated quantified food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ), after which all food items were matched to foods in the USDA Database for the Choline Content of Common Foods (Release 2) to quantify choline intake. Logistic regression with backward selection (p < 0.05) was used to determine whether egg and dairy consumption were independently associated with a choline intake below the adequate intake (AI) level. Results The median daily intake of choline was 275 mg (interquartile range 185 mg – 387 mg) (N = 681). Most participants (84.7%) consumed less than the AI of 450 mg/day for choline. Meat and meat products, cereals, eggs and dairy contributed mostly to choline intake. Food items that contributed most to choline intake included full-cream milk, maize porridge, brown bread, deep-fried potatoes and deep-fried dough (vetkoek). A choline intake below the AI was significantly associated with lower egg and dairy intakes (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002 respectively). Conclusion Most pregnant women in the current study had choline intakes below the AI. It is recommended that public health messaging targeted at pregnant women promote the consumption of foods that can significantly contribute to choline intake, such as eggs and dairy.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: The importance of adequate choline intake during pregnancy has been well documented, but inadequate intake is common. Total choline intake, as well as main food sources of choline were determined in a sample of pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Trained fieldworkers collected dietary intake data using a validated quantified food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ), after which all food items were matched to foods in the USDA Database for the Choline Content of Common Foods (Release 2) to quantify choline intake. Logistic regression with backward selection (p < 0.05) was used to select significant independent factors associated with inadequate choline intake.Results: The median daily intake of choline was 275.0 mg (interquartile range 184.7 mg – 386.7 mg) (N = 681). Most participants (84.7%) consumed less than the adequate intake level (AI) of 450 mg/day for choline. Meat and meat products, cereals, eggs and dairy contributed mostly to choline intake. Food items that contributed most to choline intake included full-cream milk, maize porridge, brown bread, deep-fried potatoes and deep-fried dough (vetkoek). An inadequate choline intake was significantly associated with lower egg and dairy intakes (p<0.0001 and p=0.0002 respectively). Conclusion: Most pregnant women in the current study had choline intakes that were lower than recommended. It is recommended that adequate choline intake during pregnancy be encouraged through public health messaging to promote consumption of foods that can significantly contribute to choline intake, such as eggs and dairy.

Background: During pregnancy, poor dietary quality is linked to maternal complications and poor birth outcomes, but no dietary quality index for pregnancy has been developed using African data. This study aimed to determine the diet quality of South African pregnant women by applying the Diet Quality Index Adapted for Pregnant Women (IQDAG), developed in Brazil, to data collected in the NuEMI (Nutritional status of Expectant Mothers and their newborn Infants) study.Methods: The NuEMI study applied a descriptive study design to collect data from 681 pregnant women visiting an antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Mangaung, central South Africa. The IQDAG was applied to dietary data collected with a quantitative food frequency questionnaire during structured interviews. Energy and nutrient intakes were quantified with the South African Medical Research Council Food Composition Database. The Women’s Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS) was applied to 24h-recall data obtained during the interviews. Associations of IQDAG scores, nutrient intakes, sociodemographic variables, WDDS and birth anthropometry were explored by contingency tables.Results: Participants had a median age of 31.9 years (IQR: 26.8‒36.7) and a median pregnancy stage of 32.0 weeks (IQR: 26.0‒36.0). The median total dietary quality score (61/100; IQR:53‒68) indicated that most of these women had a suboptimal diet. Only 2.5% had a good dietary quality, reaching at least 80% of the maximum IQDAG score that represents the minimum pregnancy recommendations. The median intakes for none of the nine components of the IQDAQ met the recommendations. Fruit, vegetables, legume, dietary calcium and omega-3 intakes were particularly low, while the intake of ultra-processed foods was above optimal. Most participants consumed only half of the recommended amounts of iron and folate from their diets. IQDAG scores were significantly (p<0.0001) associated with the dietary intakes of most nutrients, even after correction for energy intakes, and with dietary diversity (p<0.0001) and length-for-age z scores at birth (p=0.01).Conclusions: Pregnant women In a South African public health setting had poor to suboptimum dietary quality. Improving the dietary quality of pregnant women in low to middle-income countries would reduce the high financial and human cost of poor birth outcomes and maternal complications. The results also emphasise the importance of prenatal micronutrient supplementation.