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Improved Iodine Status In Breastfeeding Women Following Mandatory Fortification, Samantha Axford, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Gary Ma

Karen E. Charlton

Mandatory iodine fortification of salt used in the bread-making process was introduced in Australia in October 2009 at levels to meet the iodine needs of the general Australian population. An iodine supplement of 150 μg each day is recommended to meet the additional needs of pregnancy and lactation.1,2 As the iodine status of pregnant women in Australia has been found to be inadequate,3–5 it can be anticipated that many women commence lactation in an iodine-depleted state. Thus, it is important to determine the iodine status of breastfeeding mothers.

Poor Nutritional Status Of Older Subacute Patients Predicts Clinical Outcomes And Mortality At 18 Months Of Follow-Up, K Charlton, C Nichols, S Bowden, Marianna Milosavljevic, K Lambert, L Barone, M Mason, M Batterham

Karen E. Charlton

Background/Objectives: Older malnourished patients experience increased surgical complications and greater morbidity compared with their well-nourished counterparts. This study aimed to assess whether nutritional status at hospital admission predicted clinical outcomes at 18 months follow-up. Subjects/Methods: A retrospective analysis of N=2076 patient admissions (65+ years) from two subacute hospitals, New South Wales, Australia. Analysis of outcomes at 18 months, according to nutritional status at index admission, was performed in a subsample of n=476. Nutritional status was determined within 72 h of admission using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Outcomes, obtained from electronic patient records, included hospital readmission rate, total Length of …

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 …