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ABSTRACT Introduction Globally malnutrition is considered one of the greatest threats to public health, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries. The present study examined the extent of undernutrition and the associated determinants among children aged 6–59 months in Bangladesh using data from the Nutrition Survey of Bangladesh (NSB), 2017–18. Methods The sampling frame of NSB 2017–18 was specified by a 30 (locations) × 30 (households) cluster approach where 20 locations were from rural areas and the other 10 were from urban areas. Out of the sampled households, 566 children aged between 6 and 59 months were included in the analysis. Determinants of three anthropometric measures, weight‐for‐age (stunting), weight‐for‐height (wasting), and weight‐for‐age (underweight), were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. Result The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting of children was 34.5%, 40.6%, and 20.1%, respectively. Although the child's age, family size, cleanliness of the residential area, and food insecurity were significant determinants of malnutrition, inadequate and low‐quality protein consumption strongly predicted the development of underweight and stunting in infants and children. The odds of being stunted were 2 times (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–3.46; p = 0.011) and underweight was almost 2.5 times (AOR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.27–4.56; p

ABSTRACT Introduction Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) can lead to health issues as it is necessary for metabolic functions. This study investigated the iodine content of commonly consumed salt and the potential impact on daily iodine requirements and IDDs. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was employed using multistage cluster sampling among 240 households, dividing them into eight clusters from four stratified areas. The sampled salts were analyzed using the World Health Organization's iodometric titration method. Results The study revealed that most salt samples from the studied brands had an iodine content within the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) recommended range of 20–50 ppm, with two exceptions. The study found that most socioeconomic groups in cities, towns, and semirural areas meet their daily iodine requirements at over 100%. At the same time, many rural homes, regardless of income, fail to meet these requirements. However, the study found iodized salt in 97.9% of all surveyed households. Although 48.3% of unions, that is, rural respondents, was knowledgeable about the existence of iodized salt, 66.7% of respondents was not aware of the health benefits of iodized salt. Surprisingly, 63.3% of the town's household members and 61.7% of the rural population still consume raw salt. Additionally, 79.6% of individuals reported having no IDDs. However, only 44.2% of thyroid patients used iodine supplements. Conclusion Although salt usage and consumption practices are satisfactory, there are still a few concerns about the 100% iodization of branded and raw salts. As a result, many households need help to satisfy their daily iodine requirements.

The world is facing a tremendous problem in the form of food insecurity that is posing a great challenge to achieving sustainable development goal 2 of creating a hunger-free world. Refugees and displaced populations are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition, who lack any productive assets and depend on aid. Rohingya refugees, displaced from Myanmar and took refuge in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, live in a crowded unhealthy environment and are severely vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition. In our recent study, we found that only 21.6% of the households in Rohingya refugee camps had acceptable food security status. Interestingly, this study further revealed that acceptable food security status was significantly higher among the households that had some additional income aside from aid, compared to those relying on aid alone. This shows the importance of promoting livelihood opportunities to improve food security status among the camp dwellers. In this paper, we presented our views on promoting livelihood opportunities to address the overwhelming food insecurity crisis among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Among legumes, the lentil (Lens culinaris) is a major dietary component in many Mediterranean and Asian countries due to its high nutritional value, especially protein. However, allergic reactions triggered by lentil consumption have also been documented in many countries. Complete allergens profiling is critical for better management of lentil food allergies. Earlier studies suggested Len c 1, a 47 kDa vicilin, Len c 2, a seed-specific-biotinylated 66-kDa protein, and Len c 3, low molecular weight lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) were major allergenic proteins in lentils. Recently, mass-spectrometry-based proteomic platforms successfully identified proteins from lentil samples homologous to known plant allergens. Furthermore, in silico analysis using 337 protein sequences revealed lentil allergens that have not previously been identified as potential allergens in lentil. Herein, we discuss the feasibility of omics platforms utilized for lentil allergens profiling and quantification. In addition, we propose some future strategies that might be beneficial for profiling and development of precise assays for lentil allergens and could facilitate identification of the low allergen-containing lentil cultivars.

Background and objective: Diversified agricultural production is considered a means to enhance food diversity at the household level, particularly in developing countries where subsistence farming is common. Given the importance of a diversified diet for human health and the persistent malnutrition problem in Bangladesh, a pressing issue is how different crops and livestock production affect household food diversification, and this study sought to answer that question. Methods: Using a multistage sampling procedure, data were collected from 190 small farm holder households from Hatiya (a coastal rural sub-district of Noakhali, Bangladesh). Farm production diversity (FPD) is measured using the household biodiversity index (HBI), a simple count of all crops and livestock produced on the farm. The household dietary diversity score (HDDS) is calculated, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines, by counting 12 food groups consumed by the households in the last 24 h preceding the survey. Results: On average, households consumed 6.49 food groups during the reference day, according to the household biodiversity index (HBI). The generalized Poisson log-linear regression results indicated that farm production diversity had a positive association with HDDS; one group of farm production increased the household dietary diversity (HDD) by 0.084 unit [β: 0.084, 95% CI: 0.064, 0.106; Exp (B): 1.087], an 8.7% increase in dietary diversity. Total land size, less time to reach the district market, and improved irrigation process affect dietary diversity in bivariate analysis. Farmer's reliance on production diversity reduces when the market is more accessible and improved irrigation is used for production. Conclusion: Smallholder farm households in Bangladesh could benefit from context-specific, food-based nutrition-sensitive agriculture policies that focus on triangulation of diversified production, greater market access, and updated agricultural technology utilization.