Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Mna, But Not The Determine, Screening Tool Is A Valid Indicator Of Nutritional Status In Elderly Africans, Karen Charlton, Tracy Kolbe-Alexander, Johanna Nel

Karen E. Charlton

Objectives: To compare the validity of existing nutrition screening tools for use in older South Africans. Design: A cross-sectional study in 283 free-living and institutionalized black South Africans aged 60+ years.Methods: Trained fieldworkers administered a 24-hour recall, the DETERMINE and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) screening tools and performed anthropometrical measurements and physical function tests. Biochemical indicators assessed included serum albumin; haemoglobin, ferritin, vitamin B12, RBC folate, cholesterol and vitamin C. The 6-item Cognitive Impairment Test was used to assess cognitive function.Results: MNA score was positively and significantly associated with anthropometrical measurements, cognitive function, IADL and, in women only, % body …

A Lowered Salt Intake Does Not Compromise Iodine Status In Cape Town, South Africa, Where Salt Iodization Is Mandatory, Karen Charlton, Pieter Jooste, Krisela Steyn, Naomi Levitt, Abhijeet Ghosh

Karen E. Charlton

Objective Universal salt iodization is an effective strategy to optimize population-level iodine. At the same time as salt-lowering initiatives are encouraged globally, there is concern about compromised iodine intakes. This study investigated whether salt intakes at recommended levels resulted in a suboptimal iodine status in a country where salt is the vehicle for iodine fortification.

Methods Three 24-h urine samples were collected for the assessment of urinary sodium and one sample was taken for urinary iodine concentrations (UICs) in a convenience sample of 262 adult men and women in Cape Town, South Africa. Median UIC was compared across categories of …