Objective: The indigenous food environment, dietary intake and nutritional status of women in the Santhal tribal community of Jharkhand were assessed. Contribution of indigenous foods to nutritional status and nutrient intakes was explored. Design: Exploratory cross-sectional study with a longitudinal dietary intake assessment component. Household and dietary surveys were conducted to elicit information on socio-economic and demographic profile and food consumption patterns at household level. A 24 h dietary recall for two consecutive days (repeat surveys in two more seasons) and anthropometric assessments were carried out on one woman per household. Setting: Households (n 151) with at least one woman of reproductive age in four villages of Godda district of Jharkhand, India. Subjects: Women aged 15-49 years. Results: Almost all households owned agricultural land and grew fruits and vegetables in backyards for household consumption. A wide variety of indigenous foods were reported but dietary recalls revealed low intake. Women consumed adequate energy and protein but micronutrient intake was inadequate (less than 66 % of recommended) in the majority (more than 50 %) for Ca, Fe, vitamin B 2 , folate and vitamin B 12 . Women consuming indigenous foods in the past 2 d had significantly higher intakes of Ca (P = 0·008) and Fe (P = 0·010) than those who did not. Varying degrees of underweight were observed in 50 % of women with no significant association between underweight and consumption of indigenous foods. Conclusions: Promotion of preferential cultivation of nutrient-dense indigenous food sources and effective nutrition education on their importance may facilitate better micronutrient intakes among women in Santhal community of Jharkhand.

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Introduction: Oraon tribes of India have high levels of undernutrition. Dietary diversification is one of the food-based interventions to ameliorate malnutrition. Objectives: This study assessed the awareness and availability of indigenous foods and estimated dietary intakes and nutritional status with emphasis on indigenous food consumption among women in the Oraon tribal community in Jharkhand, India. Design: A cross-sectional study with a longitudinal component on dietary intake assessment to capture seasonality. Setting: Selected villages in Raidih block of Gumla district of Jharkhand. Participants: Reproductive-age Oraon tribal women (N ¼143).Methods: Household and dietary surveys were conducted. A 24-hour dietary recall for 2 consecutive days (repeat surveys in 2 other seasons) and food frequency questionnaire were adminsitered on 1 woman per household. Anthropometric assessments were also carried out. Outcomes: Socioeconomic status, awareness about indigenous foods, dietary intake pattern, and contribution of indigenous food to nutrient intake of Oraon tribal women in the reproductive age-group. Results: Comprehensive awareness about indigenous food resources was present. However, household food security and actual intake of indigenous foods were low. Higher intake of key micronutrients, calcium and iron, was observed among those who consumed indigenous foods. About 40% of the woman had various degrees of chronic energy deficiency.

Traditional foods of indigenous communities can be explored as a sustainable means of addressing undernutrition. Our study aimed at identifying indigenous foods of the Santhal tribal community of Godda district of Jharkhand, India, assessing their nutritive value, and appraising their potential role in addressing hidden hunger. A cross-sectional survey using qualitative methods like focus group discussions with women of childbearing age (15–49 years), adult males, and elderly people was conducted for food identification. This was followed by taxonomic classification and quantitative estimate of nutritive value of the identified foods either in a certified laboratory or from secondary data. The community was well aware of the indigenous food resources in their environment. More than 100 different types of indigenous foods including a number of green leafy vegetables were identified. Taxonomic classification was available for 25 food items and an additional 26 food items were sent for taxonomic classification. Many indigenous foods (more than 50% of which were green leafy vegetables) were found to be rich sources of micronutrients like calcium, iron, vitamin A as beta carotene, and folate. Maximizing utilization of indigenous foods can be an important and sustainable dietary diversification strategy for addressing hidden hunger in this indigenous community.

Deficiency of vitamin D or hypovitaminosis D is widespread irrespective of age, gender, race and geography and has emerged as an important area of research. Vitamin D deficiency may lead to osteoporosis (osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children) along with calcium deficiency. Its deficiency is linked with low bone mass, weakness of muscles and increased risk of fracture. However, further research is needed to link deficiency of vitamin D with extra-skeletal consequences such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infections and autoimmune disorders. The causes of vitamin D deficiency include length and timing of sun exposure, amount of skin exposed, latitude, season, level of pollution in atmosphere, clothing, skin pigmentation, application of sunscreen, dietary factors and genetic factors. The primary source is sunlight, and the dietary sources include animal products such as fatty fish, food items fortified with vitamin D and supplements. Different cut-offs have been used to define hypovitaminosis D and its severity in different studies. Based on the findings from some Indian studies, a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was observed among different age groups. Hypovitaminosis D ranged from 84.9 to 100 per cent among school-going children, 42 to 74 per cent among pregnant women, 44.3 to 66.7 per cent among infants, 70 to 81.1 per cent among lactating mothers and 30 to 91.2 per cent among adults. To tackle the problem of hypovitaminosis D in India, vitamin D fortification in staple foods, supplementation of vitamin D along with calcium, inclusion of local fortified food items in supplementary nutrition programmes launched by the government, cooperation from stakeholders from food industry and creating awareness among physicians and the general population may help in combating the problem to some extent.

Objective: The study was undertaken to assess homocysteine levels among economically deprived elderly women in Delhi.Methods: The study was carried out among elderly women aged 60–70 years residing in Kirti Nagar slums of West Delhi. Blood samples were collected, and serum homocysteine was analyzed using chemiluminescent immunometric assay. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as serum homocysteine >15 μmol/l. Dietary information was also collected using 24 h dietary recall method and food frequency questionnaire.Results: The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 16.9%. The mean serum homocysteine was 12.35±6.43 μmol/l. Serum homocysteine levels ranged from 3.84 to 35.20 μmol/l. It was observed that hyperhomocysteinemia was higher in vegetarians (31.2%) compared to non-vegetarians (6.7%).Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is higher among vegetarians than non-vegetarians. Further, research is necessary to see the effect of elevated homocysteine in multiple age-related diseases.

Introduction and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out on urban adolescents (n = 545, 11–18 years, 62.0% girls) residing in Delhi. Information pertaining to their detailed meal pattern was collected. Results: Approximately 75% adolescents from urban slums (US), low income group (LIG), and middle income group (MIG) were non-vegetarian. Highest percentage of vegetarians (27.4%) and ovo-vegetarians (19.9%) belonged to high income group (HIG). Adolescents from HIG reported the highest mean number of meals (weekdays - 5.16 ± 0.887 and weekends - 4.85 ± 1.026) and adolescents from LIG reported the lowest mean number of meals (weekdays - 4.31 ± 0.777 and weekends - 4.26 ± 0.846). Dinner was the main meal consumed by ≥99% adolescents from all four SES both on weekdays and weekends. Highest proportions of adolescents from LIG were consuming other main meals such as breakfast (97.8%) and lunch (97.0%) on weekdays and weekends. Adolescents from HIG reported the lowest daily breakfast consumption (68.5%) in comparison to other groups. Fixed times for main meals were reported by 62.6% and 54.5% adolescents on weekdays and weekends, respectively. Majority of adolescents having fixed times for main meals on weekdays and weekends belonged to HIG (74.0%) and MIG (61.5%), respectively. Majority of adolescents commonly skipping main meals on weekdays and weekends belonged to MIG (53.1%) and US (37.3%), respectively. It is found that the adolescents from LIG, who reported consuming the lowest mean total number of meals on weekends, also reported the lowest percentage of skipping main meals on weekends (21.5%).

Assessment of the status of health and nutrition of a population is imperative to design and implement sound public health policies and programmes. The various extensive national health and nutrition surveys provide national-level information on different domains of health. These provide vital information and statistics for the country, and the data generated are used to identify the prevalence and risk factors for the diseases and health challenges faced by a country. This review describes the various national health and nutrition surveys conducted in India and also compares the information generated by each of these surveys. These include the National Family Health Survey, District Level Household Survey, Annual Health Survey, National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau Survey, Rapid Survey on Children and Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey.