To describe the prevalence of low serum Se and determine whether HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or the types of drugs used are associated with serum Se in a cohort of infected and uninfected drug users.

Independent correlates of low serum Se levels based on data collected from food recalls, physical examinations and clinical questionnaires were identified using multivariate regression analysis.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

A total of 205 (twenty-five female and 180 male) former and current drug users.

Drug users had an average serum Se level of 69·8 (sd 32·8) μg/dl, and 82 % were considered deficient (<85 μg/dl). Multivariate analyses found that HIV- and/or HCV-infected individuals had lower mean Se compared with healthy, uninfected drug users (HIV/HCV co-infection: −25·3 μg/l (se 7·6), P = 0·001; HIV alone: −28·9 μg/l (se 6·9), P < 0·001; HCV alone: −19·4 μg/l (se 7·1), P = 0·006). Current and previous drug use was associated with higher serum Se. Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption were not found to be associated with Se status.

Low serum Se levels are highly prevalent among drug users in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Se supplementation and/or dietary interventions may be warranted in drug users who are at high risk for HIV and/or HCV infection.

To reduce prevalence of anaemia in low-income postpartum women.

A randomised, non-blind clinical trial was conducted among 959 low-income, postpartum women in eleven clinics in Mississippi. The clinics were randomised to one of three treatment groups: (i) selective anaemia screening of high-risk women as recommended currently (control); (ii) universal anaemia screening and treatment of anaemic women (group I); and (iii) universal Fe supplementation of 65 mg/d for two months to all low-income women (group II). All study participants within each clinic received the same treatment. Women were followed up at 6 months after delivery. Hb was measured at baseline and at follow-up. The primary outcome variable was the proportion of women with anaemia after treatment.

Eleven health clinics in Mississippi.

Low-income, postpartum women.

Baseline characteristics of the three study groups were compared using one-way ANOVA and an appropriate post hoc test for continuous variables and the χ2 test for categorical variables. Fifty-two per cent of postpartum women were anaemic (Hb < 12·0 g/dl) and the rate decreased to 33 % at 6 months after the intervention. Group II women, who received universal Fe supplementation, improved their Hb status significantly (P < 0·001) at 6 months postpartum compared with the other groups. Prevalence of anaemia was also significantly lower among group II women (22·5 %) compared with controls (34 %) and group I women (43 %; P < 0·001).

A universal Fe supplementation strategy was effective in reducing the prevalence of anaemia among low-income postpartum women.

To review national policy governing nutrition in child-care settings and explore policy translation at a regional and local level in the South East of England.

Semi-structured interviews with regional experts.

Child-care settings in Southampton, England, registered by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education Children's Services and Skills).

Thirteen subjects including child-care professionals in Southampton and policy advisors from the Government Office of the South East.

Policy regarding early years food provision varies across the country. Although there appears to be consensus between local stakeholders on the importance of improving early years nutrition in Southampton, intentions have yet to be translated into cohesive action, with differences in food and nutrition practice in child-care settings across the city. There are also areas of incoherence, inequalities in access to training and development, and duplication in local and regional support mechanisms.

The importance of proper early nutrition to provide the building blocks for life-long health and well-being is grounded in a substantial evidence base. Outside the home, early years child-care settings are an ideal place for providing a strong foundation in nutritional health and dietary habits for young children. The long-term benefits of achieving optimum nutrition in the early years should be secured through the coherent efforts of national, regional and local policy makers, child-care practitioners and parents. Existing commitment and capacity to achieve this objective at a local and regional level must be supported and matched at a national level with the acceleration of policy development, including quality control and support mechanisms.

There has been a growing interest in tailored nutrition education over the previous decade, with a number of literature reviews suggesting this intervention strategy holds considerable potential. Nevertheless, the majority of intervention trials undertaken to date have employed subjective self-report outcome measures (such as dietary recalls). The aim of the present review is to further consider the likely true effect of tailored nutrition education by assessing the findings of tailored nutrition education intervention trials where objective outcome measures (such as sales data) have been employed.

Four trials of tailored nutrition education employing objective outcome measures were identified: one was undertaken in eight low-cost supermarkets in New Zealand (2010; n 1104); one was an online intervention trial in Australia (2006; n 497); and two were undertaken in US supermarkets (1997 and 2001; n 105 and 296, respectively). Findings from the high-quality New Zealand trial were negative. Findings from the US trials were also generally negative, although reporting was poor making it difficult to assess quality. Findings from the high-quality online trial were positive, although have limited generalisability for public health.

Trials employing objective outcome measures strongly suggest tailored nutrition education is not effective as a stand-alone strategy. However, further large, high-quality trials employing objective outcome measures are needed to determine the true effectiveness of this popular nutrition intervention strategy. Regardless, education plays an important role in generating social understanding and acceptance of broader interventions to improve nutrition.