Orientador: Rogério Saad Hossne / Coorientador: Juan Carlos Llanos / Coorientador: Regina Paolucci El Dib / Banca: Carlos Eduardo Jacob / Banca: Ariane Gasparino dos Santos Martinez Uribe / Resumo: Contexto: A hepatectomia é uma cirurgia indicada para pacientes com carcinoma hepatocelular em estadios iniciais, tendo seus resultados e complicações relacionadas com o estado nutricional pré-operatório do paciente. Desta maneira, inúmeras propostas de terapia nutricional perioperatória surgiram com o objetivo de diminuir as complicações pós-operatórias, tempo de internação e mortalidade. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade e segurança da terapia nutricional como parte do cuidado perioperatório em pacientes com carcinoma hepatocelular submetidos à hepatectomia, quando comparada a uma alimentação padrão/convencional, na diminuição da mortalidade. Tipo de estudo: Revisão sistemática de ensaios clínicos randomizados e quase randomizados. Estratégia de busca: As seguintes bases de dados foram pesquisadas: Pubmed, CENTRAL, Embase e Lilacs. A data da última busca foi 17 de março de 2013. Critério para a seleção dos estudos: Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos que avaliaram terapia nutricional perioperatória em pacientes com carcinoma hepatocelular submetidos à hepatectomia na diminuição da mortalidade. Análise e coleta de dados: Dois revisores selecionaram independentemente os estudos relevantes, avaliaram a qualidade metodológica e extraíram os dados dos estudos. Resultados: Foram incluídos dois ensaios clínicos randomizados para análise qualitativa e um para análise quantitativa e representação de metanálise. Os resultados analisados foram mortalidade operatória e morbidade hospitalar, como desfechos primários, e parâmetros antropométricos, bioquímicos e imunológicos, como secundários. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos nutrição perioperatória e controle (risco relativo (RR) 0,52; intervalo de confiança (IC) 95% 0,19-1,47; p=0,22) quando avaliada a mortalidade operatória. Em relação à morbidade hospitalar houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os... / Abstract: Background: Hepatectomy is a surgical procedure indicated for patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma, and the results and complications of hepatectomy are related to the preoperative nutritional status of the patient. Thus, numerous perioperative nutritional support proposals to reduce postoperative complications, hospital stays and mortality have emerged. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nutrition therapy during perioperative care in reducing mortality rates for hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing hepatectomy compared with standard care. Methods: A systematic review of randomised clinical trials and quasirandomised clinical trials was performed. The following electronic databases were searched: Pubmed, CENTRAL, Embase and Lilacs. The last search date was March 17, 2013. Study selection: In this study were included clinical trials that evaluated perioperative nutritional support in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatectomy and that presented reduction in mortality rates. Analyses and data collection: Two reviewers independently selected the relevant studies and evaluated the quality of the methodology. Results: The review included two randomised clinical trials in the qualitative synthesis and one in the quantitative synthesis. The following interventions were analysed: operative mortality, postoperative morbidity, the anthropometrics, biochemical and immunological parameters. No statistical operative mortality differences were observed between the perioperative nutritional and control groups (relative risk (RR) 0,52; confiance interval (CI) 95% 0,19-1,47; p=0,22); however, there was a significant between-group difference in postoperative morbidity, there was significant difference between studied groups (RR 0,62; CI 95% 0,45-0,96; p=0,02). The secondary endpoints were not evaluated because we're not presented on original article, was sent to the author solicitation, ... / Mestre

Orientador : Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos / Banca: Patricia Petromilli Nordi Sasso Garcia / Banca: Anderson Marliere Navarro / Banca: Sonia Regina Pasian / Banca: Angela Nogueira Neves Betanho Campana / Resumo: Objetivos: realizar a adaptação transcultural para o português e a validação da Weight Concerns Scale (Escala de Preocupação com o Peso - WCS) e da Perceived Stress Scale (Escala de Estresse Percebido - PSS), estudar a equivalência entre as versões online e em papel da WCS e verificar a contribuição do estado nutricional, estresse percebido e de variáveis sociodemográficas na preocupação com peso de estudantes universitárias. Métodos: participaram 1.097 estudantes do sexo feminino matriculadas nos cursos de graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas e Ciências e Letras da Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP campus de Araraquara (SP) nos anos de 2011 e 2012. Foram levantadas informações sociodemográficas, além de medidas de peso e altura autorreferidos. Realizou-se a tradução e retrotradução dos instrumentos e, em seguida, os procedimentos de validação de face e de conteúdo. A sensibilidade psicométrica dos itens foi avaliada por meio das medidas de resumo (assimetria e curtose). Conduziu-se análise fatorial confirmatória das escalas utilizando os índices 2/gl (razão qui-quadrado e graus de liberdade), CFI (Confirmatory Fit Index), GFI (Goodness of Fit Index) e RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation). Para avaliar a estabilidade dos modelos realizou-se análise multigrupos. A invariância entre os modelos foi testada utilizando-se a diferença do qui-quadrado (Δ²) para os pesos fatoriais (), para as Covariâncias (Cov) e Resíduos (Res) dos modelos. Estimou-se a validade convergente pelas medidas de Variância Extraída Média (VEM) e Confiabilibade Composta (CC). As validades concorrente e divergente foram calculadas por meio da análise correlacional (r) utilizando-se o Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) e a versão para estudantes do Inventário de Burnout de Maslach (MBI). A consistência interna das escalas foi calculada utilizando-se o Coeficiente alfa de Cronbach padronizado (α). Para ... / Abstract: Objectives: perform a transcultural adaptation to Portuguese and validation of Weight Concerns Scale (WCS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), study the equivalence between the online and paper-and-pencil versions of WCS and verify the contribution of nutritional status, perceived stress and sociodemographic variables in concern with female university students' weight. Methods: participated 1097 undergraduate female students enrolled in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Sciences and Linguistics schools at Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP campus of Araraquara (São Paulo) in 2011/2012. Were raised sociodemographic information and measurements such as weight and height. Performed translation and back-translation of instruments and then the validation procedures of face and content. Psychometric sensitivity of the items was evaluated using the summary measures (skewness and kurtosis). Conducted confirmatory factor analysis of the scales from the indices 2/gl (chi-square ratio for degrees of freedom), CFI (Confirmatory Fit Index), GFI (Goodness of Fit Index) and RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation). To assess the stability of the models was performed a multi groups analysis. The invariance of the models was tested using the chi-square difference (Δ²) for the factor weights (), Covariance (Cov) and Residue (Res) of the models. Estimated the convergent validity of the measures from the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and Composite Reliability (CR). The concurrent and divergent validity were calculated by correlation analysis (r) using the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the student version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The internal consistency of the scales was calculated by standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α). For WCS was performed a study to adjust the application mode (online and paper-and-pencil) of the measuring instrument. The impact of variables in weight concerns was estimated by a ... / Doutor

Orientador: Edson Luiz Mendes Coutinho / Banca: Takashi Muraoka / Banca: Valdeci Orioli Júnior / Banca: José Eduardo Corá / Banca: Carolina Fernandes / Resumo: Para obtenção de altas produtividades de milho, é necessário adequado fornecimento de fertilizante nitrogenado à planta. Para isso, é importante saber qual fonte utilizar para evitar perdas por lixiviação e volatilização. Portanto, surgiram no mercado fertilizantes chamados estabilizados que apresentam inibidores de nitrificação e urease. É importante, também, conhecer a época de aplicação desses fertilizantes. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da ureia tratada com inibidores de nitrificação e urease no desenvolvimento da planta e na produtividade de grãos da cultura do milho. O experimento foi realizado no município de Jaboticabal, SP, em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, textura média, utilizando-se o híbrido Dow 2B710, durante dois anos agrícolas (2013/2014 e 2014/2015). Foram utilizadas quatro doses de N (0, 50, 100 e 200 kg ha-1); três tratamentos da ureia (ureia com inibidor de urease: [N-(N-butil) tiofosfórico triamida] - "NBPT"; ureia com inibidor de nitrificação: (3,4-dimetilpirazol-fosfato) - "DMPP" e; ureia convencional) e duas épocas de aplicação (dose total aplicada na semeadura e; 30 kg ha-1 na semeadura e o restante em cobertura, no estádio fenológico V4). Tratamentos da ureia e épocas de aplicação utilizadas não promoveram diferenças significativas nas variáveis estudadas em relação à ureia convencional. Avaliações do índice de clorofila com clorofilômetro e concentração de N na folha em estádios iniciais podem possibilitar medidas de correção de deficiência... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract; In order to obtain high maize yield, it is required an adequate supply of N fertilizer to the crop. For this, it is important to know what source to use to avoid losses by leaching and volatilization. Thus, fertilizers known as stabilized with nitrification and urease inhibitors have emerged in the market. It is important also to know the application time of these fertilizers. So, aiming to study the effects of urea treated with nitrification and urease inhibitors on plant development and grains yield of maize crop. The experiment was carried out in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, in a Haplustox, using the Dow 2B710 hybrid, during two agricultural years (2013/2014 and 2014/2015). Four N rates (0, 50, 100 and 200 kg ha-1); three urea treatments (urea with urease inhibitor: [N-(N-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide] - "NBPT"; urea with nitrification inhibitor: (3,4-dimethylpyrazole-phosphate) - "DMPP" and; conventional urea) and two application times (total rate applied at sowing and; 30 kg ha-1 at sowing and remainder topdressed at developmental stage V4). Urea treatments and application times did not promote significant differences in the variables studied in relation to conventional urea. Evaluation of chlorophyll index with chlorophyll meter and N concentration in the leaf at initial stages may allow deficiency correction measures if low levels are detected / Doutor

Orientador: José Silvio Govone / Coorientador: Maria Rita Marques de Oliveira / Banca: Lídia Raquel de Carvalho / Banca: Lilian Fernanda Galesi Pacheco / Resumo: Os idosos normalmente tem baixo consumo alimentar, devido o processo de envelhecimento, resultando em um grave problema, a desnutrição, que associada a idade elevada merece muita atenção. Para um diagnóstico nutricional claro, que possibilite uma intervenção nutricional adequada, deve ser realizada uma avaliação precisa do estado nutricional dos idosos. Essa avaliação e feita com os indicadores objetivos e subjetivos. Os indicadores utilizados para o presente trabalho foram os objetivos: antropométricos e bioquímicos. As variáveis antropométricas foram massa corporal total, estatura, circunferência do braço, circunferência muscular do braço, área de gordura do braço, as dobras cutâneas tricipital, bicipital, subescapular e supra-ilíaca, porcentagem de gordura corporal, circunferência da panturrilha e índice de massa corpórea; e as bioquímicas foram albumina, transferrina e proteína C reativa. Um grande desafioo para a nutrição é agrupar e interpretar as variáveis antropométricas e bioquímicas conjuntamente. Logo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar a análise de componentes principais nos dados de uma amostra de 113 idosos, para explicar com um menor número de variáveis a maior parte das informa çoes no conjunto original de dados, seguida da análise fatorial exploratória nos mesmos dados, para obter fatores que agrupem as variáveis originais em subconjuntos de novas variáveis mutuamente não correlacionadas. As análises foram realizadas para todos os idosos, com todas as variáveis, e depois, com a retirada das variáveis que possuem baixas correlações com as demais, foram realizadas novas análises para todos os idosos, para os idosos divididos por faixa etária, e por sexo. Com a análise de componentes principais foi possível concluir que a variável circunferência do braço é a mais... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Elderly people usually have low nourishment consumption, due to the aging process, which results in a serious problem, malnutrition, and, when it is associated with age, it's certainly an issue that deserves special attention. In order to achieve a clear nutritional diagnosis, that is, one that allows an adequate nutritional intervention, it is necessary to develop a nutritional assessment of the elderly. Such assessment can be carried out using objective and subjective indicators. Some of the objectives indicators, anthropometric and biochemical indicators, were approached in this study. The anthropometric variables considered were total body mass; height; arm circumference; arm muscular circumference; arm fat area; triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness; body fat percentage; calf circumference and body mass index. The biochemical variables considered in this study were albumin, transferrin and C-reactive protein. Both grouping and interpreting the biochemical and anthropometric variables taken together constitute a major challenge for nutrition. Thus, the objective of this study was performing a principal component analysis for a sample of 113 elders, in order to maximize the explanation of the original data set using fewer variables as possible and then perform an exploratory factor analysis, over the same data, to extract the factors that group up the original variables in a subset of new, mutually non-correlated variables. The analysis were carried out for all elders using all variables and then new analysis were held for all elders, divided into age and sex classes, using the remaining variables after the removal of the lowest correlated ones. Through the principal component analysis, it was possible to conclude that the arm circumference is the most important, that is, the variable which has... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Throughout this century food guide systems (Five Food Groups, Basic Seven, Basic Four, Food Guide Pyramid) have dramatically changed and with the changes the need for adequate assessment measures has changed as well. The objective of the study was to develop and validate two such rapid assessment methods that could possibly be employed as educational devices in nutrition education programs while taking away the need for expensive computer analysis and/or the time consuming, inefficient, and often tedious job of nutrient assessment through various tables of food analysis and composition. College students aged 18-24 served as the sample population and their three-day dietary recalls the data for this study. Each diet was compared to the Food Guide Pyramid (FGP) by using one rapid assessment method scored in two ways (FGP₁ and FGP₂). FGP₁ is a simple point-far-point method based on minimum recommended servings from the Food Guide Pyramid and the FGP₂ score is a weighted method of food groups based on the same criteria. All diets were evaluated in terms of nutrient quantity by computer analysis and translated into mean adequacy ratios for fourteen nutrients (MAR₁) and for seven problem nutrients (MAR₂). The FGP scores (FGP₁ and FGP₂) were then compared to each of the MAR scores (MAR₁ and MAR₂) to test validity by correlation analysis. Results indicate both rapid assessment tools maintain significant correlation (p<000.1) with actual nutrient intakes. A mean FGP₁ score of 10.8 (max. = 15) correlated significantly with a mean MAR₁ score of 0.88 (max. = 1.00)(r = 0.68) and with the MAR₂ score for problem nutrients of 0.83 (max. = 1.00)(r = 0.66). A mean FGP₂ score of 21.3 (max. = 30) correlated significantly with a mean MAR₁ score of 0.88 (max. = 1.00)(r = 0.65) and with the MAR₂ score for problem nutrients of 0.83 (max. = 1.00)(r = 0.63). Results illustrate that the FGP₁ score could be used by the general public individually and in nutrition education programs to help assess diets based on nutrient adequacy. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study is to determine the individual and accumulative effect of yellow and white corn meal, cowpeas (black-eyes), fortified oleomargarine, salt pork, molasses, peanuts, cabbage, irradiated evaporated milk, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes upon the nutritional value of the resulting diets.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Food and Beverage Management, Dept. of Hospitality and Tourism)--Vaal University of Technology. / Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a nutrition education programme for Setlabotjha Primary School children in order to improve current knowledge. The study included all grade seven learners from two primary schools in one of the poorest areas in the Vaal Triangle. Children form Setlabojha Primary School formed the experimental group, while children from Ekujuleni Primary School formed the control group. Methods: The initial steps involved a baseline survey (Napier 2001 :78), which indicated that malnutrition exists at Setlaboljha Primary School. The baseline survey indicated stunting, wasting, underweight and poor food consumption patterns among the children. A literature survey was conducted, as a result of the findings of malnutrition, poverty and household food insecurity in Eatonside. Pre-tests were undertaken to determine current nutritional knowledge (for both groups) using a nutritional knowledge questionnaire developed by the Medical Research Council. The pre-tests results revealed poor nutritional knowledge and these results were used to develop the nutrition education tool (nutrition education playing cards) based on the South African Food Based Dietary Guidelines. The intervention, which involved the issuing, reading. playing and exchanging of the nutrition education playing cards had taken place over eleven weeks for the experimental group. The control group had received pamphlets and nutrition education lessons. After the intervention had taken place, post-tests were undertaken to compare the difference between the two groups and to determine the effectiveness of the nutrition education programme. Results: In general, the subjects of both groups had a good knowledge regarding sugar, water and salt consumption, as well as 'the key to a healthy way of eating'. Thus the inclusion of fruit and vegetables and variety were in the diet. Poor knowledge was evident in both groups pertaining to pregnancy, the importance of starch in the diet, alcohol consnmption, physical activity, vitamin A-rich foods and the inclusion of pilchards as a calcium-rich source. / NRF and Central Research Committee, VUT.

M. Tech. (Department of Hospitality, Tourism and PR Management)/ -- Vaal University of Technology / Both under and over nutrition are prevalent among children in South Africa. At national level, children suffered from under nutrition. Childhood malnutrition starts early in life, the first two years being the most vulnerable period. Malnutrition is a public health problem in South Africa, especially in young children, requiring a systematic approach to improve nutrition services and promote behavior change. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the nutritional status of the primary school children in Qwa-Qwa in South Africa. The study was carried out in two phases, namely Phase 1 (Planning) and Phase 2 (data collection and analysis of socio-demographics, 24-hour recall, a food frequency questionnaire, dietary diversity and anthropometric measurements). Weight and height were measured for 70 children (100% of the sample) and analysed according to the World Health Organization documents (WHO 2007) to determine nutritional status of the respondents. The data were captured on an Excel spreadsheet by the researcher and analysed for descriptive statistics such as frequencies, standard deviations and confidence intervals on the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 18.0 program. A convenience sample of 70 primary school children aged 7-13 years, including girls (n=38) and boys (n=32) forming part of 105 purposively selected households were recruited for the study. The results showed that the majority of the households (80.4%) had been living in Qwa-Qwa for more than five years and lived in RDP brick houses (86.7%) with more than four rooms (56.3%). The monthly income of the households was less than R1000.00 in the majority of the households (73.9%) and 42.0% of the households spent < R100 on food per week which is calculated at R14.29 per day and R 2.86 per household member per day. The respondents consumed a mainly carbohydrate rich diet as 10 of the 20 most consumed food items were carbohydrates (mean daily intake) such as stiff maize meal porridge(195g), soft maize meal porridge (174g) , brown and white bread(122g), potato, cooked (66g), samp, cooked (187g), potato fries (85g), breakfast cereal (300g) and rice cooked (140g). Only three vegetables and fruit formed part of the Top 20 food items mostly consumed. It is showed that very small portion sizes of mostly the vegetables and fruit as well as the protein-rich food sources were consumed. The dietary intakes of the nutrients showed deficient intakes of all except, carbohydrate, iron, Vitamin K and B12. However, these nutrients showed an adequate intake, but there were still 38% of all respondents who did not consume 100% of the EAR for the CHO compared to 38%, 73%, 71% and 60% for Fe, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and K respectively. Vitamin C intakes were low which was consistent with only three vegetables and fruit which showed that children consumed small amounts of vegetables and fruit portions. The mean (±SD) Food Variety Score for all the food groups consumed from all the food groups in a period of seven days was 23.96 (±16.08). These results revealed poor dietary diversity. Cereal was the food group with the highest mean food variety score in this study population. The mean ±SD FVS of 23.96 (±16.08) revealed poor dietary diversity in the children despite the relatively high food variety (88 individual foods consumed in seven days). More boys (28.5%) were underweight (<-2SD) compared to fewer girls (17.4%). There is thus acute malnutrition in this group of the children which is consisted with the insufficient food intakes reflected by the 24-hour recall and dietary diversity measurements. Stunting was prevalent in 21.1% and 18.7% of the girls and boys respectively, with 4.3% of all the children being severely stunted (<-3SD). This indicates chronic malnutrition and or the presence of infections over a long period leading to failure of linear growth. None of the boys and girls were overweight or obese, whilst (71.8 %) of boys and (81.5%) of girls were of normal weight. It can be concluded that poverty, household food insecurity and poor dietary intakes and diversity resulted in poor nutritional status of the children in this community. The high prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes and poor nutritional status (under-nutrition) amongst the children in this study, demonstrates the need for effective sustainable food and nutrition interventions aimed at improving dietary intake and diversity as well as the poor nutritional status. / Vaal University of Technology, SANPAD

M. Tech Food Service Management (Hospitality, Tourism and Public Relations, Faculty of Human Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Good maternal nutrition is vital for the health and survival of the developing foetus. Nutritive inadequacy has been associated with pregnant women in developing countries particularly Sub Saharan Africa. Adequate intake of both macro and micronutrients by this vulnerable group must be ensured to avoid maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. In this study, a novel approach was employed to develop a cost effective, culturally acceptable and nutrient-dense food multi-mix (FMM) supplement that would help meet 20-25 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of pregnant women aged between 20and 30 years in the Vaal region. Twenty FMM supplements were formulated using South African food composition tables to ensure adequate nutritional content. Two out of the twenty, were selected and named FMM C1 and C3 respectively. FMM C I and C3 was selected owing to their better nutrient contents and affordability when compared with the others. Food items used to formulate FMM C 1 included maize meal, pea powder, peanut dry, milk powder and kidney beans. FMM C3 was formulated with sorghum, maize meal, peanut dry and onion powder. Chosen food items were dried, roasted, ground and mixed together proportionately. FMM supplements (C 1 & C3) were analyzed using standard laboratory techniques to determine their nutrient content. Results obtained were from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). The shelf life of the FMM supplements was microbiologically tested. Shelf life testing proved safety for the time of consumption, as very little microbiological growth was found in 28 days. The FMM supplements were then incorporated in the development of two acceptable recipes (soup and gravy).Simple recipe leaflets were developed for use by the subjects. The process proved that it is possible to formulate a FMM or any other food product according to certain formulation criteria since formulated FMM supplements (C1 and C3) met the criteria of at least 20% RDA of Protein (g). However, the criteria for micronutrients and energy were difficult to meet as folate iron and energy showed lower percentages of 10%, 14% and 18% respectively in the experimental situation. Sensory evaluation was conducted to ascertain the acceptability of the developed recipes (soup and gravy). The sample consisted of pregnant women randomly selected from John Haynes and Sharpeville clinics respectively, it can be concluded it is possible to formulate and develop products that were culturally acceptable to the consumers (pregnant women) as sensory analysis indicated the majority (85%) of the respondents liked the gravy and 65% liked the soup. Further research is needed to address the impact on nutritional status, long-term compliance and development of range of FMM with various ingredients to determine the most nutritional, cost effective and acceptable product for pregnant women.

D. Tech. (Food Service Management, Dept. of Hospitality, Tourism and PR management), Vaal University of Technology / The main objective of this study was to develop a cost-effective, culturally acceptable, nutrient-dense food multimix (FMM) based on local food staples for pregnant women in the Vaal region. The impact of the consumption of the multimix on the nutritional status of the women, dietary diversity and outcomes of pregnancy was assessed in an intervention study by measuring the same variables as for a pilot study where the nutritional status of pregnant women was determined. Compliance was measured through monitoring of the FMM consumption and sensory evaluation tests. Quantitative food frequency questionnaires (QFFQs) and 24-hour recall questionnaires were completed in interviews. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were recorded. The pilot study indicated that the mean total iron intake was 9,74 mg/day, below the estimated average requirement (EAR) of 22 mg/day for pregnant women. Therefore, 41,7 per cent of the women were found to be iron deficient and 50 per cent suffered from iron deficiency anaemia. Food consumed supplied little iron. Eighty per cent of the women were overweight before falling pregnant. Based on the pilot study, the FMM was developed and subjected to the following processes: chemical analysis, shelf life tests, recipe development and sensory evaluation. The product was then implemented in an intervention programme. A control group of pregnant women received soup powder. The respondents were relatively healthy and did not suffer from any chronic diseases. According to the nutrient intakes measured by the QFFQ, indicating usual dietary intakes, the iron intake of 87,5 per cent of the experimental group and 94 per cent of the control group fell below the EAR before intervention. After the intervention it improved in that the iron intake of 35,2 per cent of the experimental group and 33,3 per cent of the control group fell below the EAR. The top 10 items consumed by the experimental group during pre- and post-intervention were mainly rich in carbohydrates. Food containing iron absorption inhibitors such as tannin in tea and phytates in maize meal and bread were among the top 10 foods listed. The highest number of individual food items consumed by an individual in seven days was 39 before the intervention and 52 after the intervention, among the experimental group. The individual food variety improved after the intervention. The reason for this could be the inclusion of the FMM in their diets. The majority of the respondents consumed eight to nine of the nutritious food groups before and after the intervention. The mean food variety score (FVS) for the control group was 38,9 (±10,5) before the intervention, which decreased to 35,8 (±8,39) after the intervention. No improvement in FVS was observed after the intervention in the control group and the FVS indicated medium dietary diversity (30-60 food items). The post-intervention results show that there was an improvement in most of the iron variables. The experimental group showed statistically significant differences between pre- and post-intervention measurements in transferrin and haematocrit levels and the control group in haematocrit levels. All the babies born to the mothers of both the experimental and control groups were healthy with measurements in the normal range. The reason for this could be that the inclusion of the FMM and soup powder in the diets of the experimental and control group, respectively, made the women more aware of the importance of pregnancy monitoring. Furthermore, the attention given to the women by the clinic sisters and the researchers could have contributed to all the improvements mentioned.