Moringa oleifera seeds were processed as raw M. oleifera (RMO), germinated M. oleifera (GMO), and fermented M. oleifera (FMO), and were evaluated for proximate, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, phytochemicals/antinutrients, and functional properties. Protein content of GMO (23.69 ± 0.11 g/100 g) was higher than FMO (21.15 ± 0.08 g/100 g) and that of RMO (18.86 ± 0.09 g/100 g) (P < 0.05), respectively. Energy value of FMO (465.32 ± 0.48 kcal) was higher than GMO (438.62 ± 0.12 kcal) and that of RMO (409.04 ± 1.61 kcal), respectively. Mineral contents in GMO were significantly higher in iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and copper, while FMO were higher in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, and both were significantly lower than those in RMO (P < 0.05). Total essential amino acids (TEAAs) in FMO (31.07 mg/g crude protein) were higher than in GMO (26.52 mg/g crude protein), and were higher than that in RMO (23.56 mg/g crude protein). Linoleic acid (58.79 ± 0.02–62.05 ± 0.01 g/100 g) and behenic acid (0.13 ± 0.00–0.20 ± 0.06 g/100 g) were the predominant and least fatty acids, respectively. Phytochemical/antinutrient compositions in FMO samples were significantly lower than GMO, and both were significantly lower when compared with RMO samples (P < 0.05). The bulk density (pack and loose), foaming capacity, swelling capacity, and water absorption capacity (WAC) of FMO were significantly higher than those of GMO, and there was no significant difference between GMO and RMO samples. The study established that fermentation processing methods increased the protein content, essential amino acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles, and reduced antinutrient compositions of M. oleifera seed than germination processing techniques; hence, fermentation techniques should be encouraged in processing moringa seeds in food processing.

No abstract

The paucity of adequate data on dietary and nutrient intakes of school-age children is a barrier to addressing malnutrition and associated risks in Nigeria. This study included 955 children aged 4–13 years from Ibadan, Nigeria, using a stratified random sampling design. Information on family socio-demographic characteristics was reported, and child anthropometrics were measured. Dietary intake data were collected using a multi-pass 24 h dietary recall method; 20% of subjects completed a second 24 h recall to estimate usual nutrient intakes. Means and distributions of usual intakes of energy and nutrients as well as prevalence of inadequacy were estimated. Usual energy intake (kcal/day) was 1345 and 1590 for younger (4–8 years) and older (9–13 years) age groups, respectively. The macronutrient intakes of most children did not conform to Adequate Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs), which were characterized by a higher proportion of energy from carbohydrates and lower proportion from total fats. Protein intake was largely within the AMDR. Compared to recommendations, over 60% of 4–8-year-old children had inadequate intakes of calcium, copper, iron, folate, and vitamins A, D, and E. There were more micronutrient inadequacies in the older children. This study identifies nutrition gaps and suggests future research and education to improve child nutrition in Nigeria.

No abstract

Introduction displacement predisposes to deprivation and hunger and consequently malnutrition. In Nigeria, information on anthropometric characteristics and associated factors among displaced under-five children is important to strengthen strategies to ameliorate malnutrition and promote child health. This study was conducted to identify the determinants on anthropometric indices among under-five children in internally displaced persons’ camps in Abuja, Nigeria. Methods this cross-sectional study involved 317 mother-child (0-59 months) pairs selected using two-stage simple random sampling technique. Information on socio-demographic, care practices (infant feeding, immunization, deworming) and anthropometric characteristics of index children was obtained using semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Weight and length/height were assessed using standard procedure and analysed using World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro software. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at p<0.05. Results median age was 24 months, 50.8% were male and 42.3% were delivered at health facility. Only 45.4% were exclusively breastfed, 28.8% were fed complementary foods too early, 45.4% were dewormed in the preceding six months and 43.9% had complete/up-to-date immunisation. Prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 42%, 41% and 29.3%, respectively. Poor anthropometric indices were higher among male than female children, except wasting. Having good anthropometric index was 2.5 times higher among children <12 months than children ≥37 months (CI: 1.08-5.8), 2.4 times higher among 1 st birth order than 5 th orders (CI: 0.19-0.93), 1.7 times higher among female than male children (CI: 1.08-2.82). Conclusion malnutrition is a major health problem among under-five children in internally displaced camps and major determinants include age, birth order, gender and deworming status.

Background: Achieving meaningful malnutrition reductions in Nigeria and other high-burden countries requires sustained improvements in diets, mediated through nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems. Yet, the capacity to design, plan, implement, and monitor such nutrition-sensitive systems is very limited, including within agricultural extension services delivery. Understanding existing capacity of actors required to implement nutrition change is crucial for effective capacity development. Objective: This study assessed the nutrition capacity of agriculture extension agents (AEAs) in Nigeria and the capacity of their organizations and the institutions within which they operate. Methods: The study assessed 31 extension training materials for inclusion of recommendations for nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 23 extension agents and were coded and analyzed for major themes. Results: Training materials hardly included nutrition objectives and or nutrition-related services to be delivered. Some nutrition-related services were being delivered, including promotion of biofortified crops and nutrient-dense crops and animals, home gardening, food safety, and dietary diversification. However, these services were limited, and service delivery was unstructured, nonuniform, and inconsistent. Numbers of AEAs are quite inadequate while available AEAs had high workloads, are poorly motivated, and had limited funding, supervision, and logistics capacity to perform roles. Physical security was also a challenge for service delivery. Further, complementary activities in other sectors that were necessary for adequate delivery of nutrition-sensitive agriculture did not always exist. Conclusion: Extensive development of nutrition capacities of extension agents appears unlikely to achieve nutrition-related changes if limiting institutional and organizational capacity deficits are not addressed. Plain Language Title: Capacity of Agriculture Extension Agents in Nigeria to Deliver Nutrition Services. Plain Language Summary: Reducing the significant burden of malnutrition in Nigeria requires increased availability and consumption of foods that are nutritious and free from harmful substances. To produce such foods, farmers need adequate nutrition and food safety knowledge and skills. The production of such food will also need to support nutrition in other ways, including increased women’s empowerment. Extension agents traditionally support farmers to adopt new methods of food production and/or processing that support increased food yields. These agents can also be used to deliver services that will address nutrition if they have the necessary knowledge and skills. This study assessed the capacity of agriculture extension agents in Nigeria to deliver nutrition services, in order to determine how to increase their capacity to deliver these services. The results from the study are that the extension agents do not have sufficient knowledge and skills to deliver nutrition services, and that their organizations and the wider context in which they work do not have the capacity to enable them to deliver nutrition services effectively. For instance, the organizations do not have sufficient numbers of staff and do not provide current staff with adequate means of transportation to visit farmers. Insecurity is high and so extension agents are unable to visit farmers frequently because of the potential threats to their lives. The study concludes that effectively using extension agents to deliver nutrition services will require not just training of the extension agents but also improvements in organizational capacity and contextual factors.

15There is proliferation of alcoholic beverages flavoured with herbal-extracts perceived 16 to have medicinal values. Information on the phytochemical and heavy metal 17 contents of these products is scarce. This study assessed the phytochemical

Overweight and obesity constitute global public health problems with consequences on health and productivity of workers. This study was designed to describe the gender variation in the factors associated with overweight, obesity and hypertension among civil servants in Lagos, Nigeria. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 280 civil servants recruited from seven local government areas in Lagos state using random sampling technique. A pre-tested, intervieweradministered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics and blood pressure. Weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured using standard procedure. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at p = 0.05. Age was 44.8 ± 8.5 years, 68.2% were males and 80.4% were married. About 64% had tertiary education; higher in males (70.7%) than females (49.4%). The crude prevalence of overweight and obesity was 70.7%. Overweight was significantly higher in males (61.7%) than females (52.3%) while obesity was significantly higher in females (47.7%) than males (38.3%). Abdominal obesity was more common in males (31.6%) than females (23.1%). Body mass index was higher in females (28.05 ± 4.9) compared to males (27.83 ± 5.8); WC was higher in females (94.6 ± 10.0) than males (93.08 ± 12.6). Obesity was predominant among civil servants aged 51 to 60 years in both gender groups. Systolic blood pressure (BP) was higher in females (124.08 ± 19.8) than males (122.4 ± 22.8) whereas diastolic BP was higher in males (84.3 ± 13.1) than females (83.7 ± 12.1). The prevalence of hypertension was 42.9%; higher in females (44.6%) than males (42.1%). Among female civil servants, overweight and obesity were significantly associated with age, education while among males they were significantly associated with grade level. Overweight, obesity and hypertension are high among civil servants; prevalence and associated factors differ by gender. Gender-sensitive public health intervention is hereby recommended to influence health behavior of civil servants.