October to December 2010

Vol. 27 No. 4 October - December 2010 ISSN Number: 0166-2985

FNRI releases anthropometric survey resultsusing the WHO-CGS

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute-DOST re-analyzed the results of the

weight and height data of children, 0-19 years old (0-228 months), from the 7th NNS conducted in 2008 using the World Health Organization-Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS). The re-analysis was in line with the full implementation for the adoption of the WHO-CGS by 2011. The implementation was supported by the Governing Board Resolution No.2 of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) approved on 20th of June 2008 by the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH). The results generated were released and presented in a public forum held at the New Horizon Hotel,

Boni Avenue, EDSA, Mandaluyong City, on November 18, 2010 from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The event was attended by the different stakeholders and users of the data from the government and non-government organizations, private sectors, and academe. The FNRI Director, Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, delivered the welcome message to the participants while the inspirational message of the DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo, who was on trip abroad, was delivered by Undersecretary Fortunato de la Pena on his behalf. His message encouraged everyone to work as partners and to take pro-active roles and advocacies in reducing malnutrition towards achieving

the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Number 1.

The plenary session started with the presentation of Ms. Teresa S. Mendoza, who gave the overview and rationale for adopting the WHO-CGS. Ms. Mendoza of FNRI is the

What’s Inside

Director’s Message ..........Writers’ Pool Corner .........News Flash ......................Human Resource in Focus ............................Library Acquisition ............

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MLPatalen-Dasco, Sr.SRS, NAMD

Dr. Capanzana, FNRI Director welcomes the participants during the presentation of the NNS Anthropometric Survey results for 0-19 year-old children using the WHO-CGS on November 18, 2010 at New Horizon Hotel, Mandaluyong City.

With the scent of cold breeze and the sight of children caroling in the streets,

Christmas is just around the corner. The year 2010 has been a very remarkable year for outstanding achievements in defining the citizenry’s nutritional status, developing recommendations for improvement of nutrition status and disseminating research findings and recommendations. Moreover, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) has built strong partnerships with different stakeholders and sectors of the society.

The fourth quarter of the year saw the release of the results of the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in reference to the World Health Organization – Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS). These results are significantly needed in planning, implementing and evaluating development programs both in the national and local levels.

The S and T Sulong Pinoy Program with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which aims to reduce the prevalence of undernutrition among young children in selected areas like Leyte, commenced during the quarter. The program uses feeding intervention of nutritious complementary food packs or “technopacks” developed by the FNRI, nutrition education for the mothers and technology transfer of multi-nutrient growth mix to a private entrepreneur within the locality.

As a micronutrient deficiency intervention specifically for anemia, the FNRI launched the SupeRice, an iron fortified rice which was originally marketed in Bataan and now is being promoted in the districts of Zambales.

The lecture on the production of the Brazil Food Composition Tables (FCT) exposed the complexity and hardships before full publication of this tool. The lecture relates very well with the FNRI’s work on the Philippine FCT.

On September 8, the FNRI Institutional Ethics Review Committee (FIERC) renewed the contracts as chairperson and members of the committee with the presentation of the committees’ accomplishments in 2009.

Also, the FNRI in partnership with the International Life Science Institute – Southeast Asia Region (ILSI-SEAR) assembled nutrition experts and advocates from around the Southeast Asia region to deliberate on the improvement of the current status of infants and young children in the Philippines.

With the commitment to disseminate research findings and recommendations, the FNRI roamed the regions to conduct NUTRICOMNET media fora, trainings and technology transfer.

The FNRI is embarking on using television to disseminate food, nutrition and health information to the public. A nutrition school on television dubbed as Nutrisyon Iskool started its production phase as one of the segments of the Rx Nutrisyon at Kalusugan Program. It is the first known nutrition school on Philippine television. The Nutrition Iskool is a fifteen minute module in nutrition to be aired at IBC Channel 13. The Nutrisyon Iskool will run for one

Office Address Address: FNRI Building, DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telefax: 837-2934/837-3164; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.

FNRI Digest Editorial Board

Editorial Staff

Zenaida V. NarcisoEditor-in-Chief

Jund Rian A. DoringoIssue Editor

Divorah V. AguilaVictor Franco J. AlfonsoJund Rian A. Doringo

Marilou R. GalangMa. Idelia G. GloriosoMildred O. Guirindola

Charina A. JavierRegina M. Pagaspas

Chona F. PatalenMa. Corazon E. Palompo

Salvador R. SerranoContributors

Erlinda V. IlaoCompositor

Romeo R. ArtuzArtist

Richard B. MagnoCirculation Manager

Advisers

Mario V. Capanzana, Ph.D.Director

Ferdinand B. Oamar, DPAOIC, Office of the Deputy DirectorChief Administrative Officer, FAD

Celeste C. Tanchoco, Dr.PHScientist III and Chief Science Research

Specialist, NFRDD

Zenaida V. Narciso, Ph.D.Chief Science Research Specialist, TDSTSD

Corazon M. CerdeñaChief Science Research Specialist, NAMD

Teresita R. PortugalSupervising Science Research Specialist, FRDG

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Director’s Message

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season with 13 episodes per season. The first episode will be aired on January 3, 2011 at 1:30-2:00 pm and every Mondays and Fridays thereafter.

The FNRI has joined the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) for improvement of health and nutritional status of the population through a socio-economic development project titled “Empowering Stakeholders of the Hunger Mitigation Program through

Writers’ Pool Corner

Know more about rootcrops and legumes

Do you know that root crops and legumes are good sources of dietary fiber

and help prevent risks for diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer? Rootcrops include ube, gabi, tugi, potato, kamote and cassava. Legumes, on the other hand, consists of cowpea, mungbean, pole sitao, chickpeas, green peas, peanut, pigeon pea, kidney beans, lima beans and soybeans. According to the study done at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), the dietary fiber content of root crops ranges from 4.6 to 13.5 g/100 g while for legumes, the values range from 20.9 to 46.9 g/100 g.

How do root crops and legumes maintain our weight and prevent risk for diabetes mellitus? The viscosity and fibrous structure of both root crops and legumes slows down digestion and the release of glucose in our blood thereby maintaining our blood glucose in the normal condition. Because glucose is released slowly, it will not be easily stored in our body thus maintaining our normal weight.

As good sources of dietary fiber, root crops and legumes can provide satiety effects and can slow down our feeling for hunger, therefore, leading to less intake of food.

FNRI-DOST studied the glucose response or glycemic index (GI) of root crops and legumes in non-diabetic and diabetic subjects. Both root crops and legumes have low GIs (<55). Gl is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.

Among the rootcrops, ube has the lowest (GI=27±1) and tuge the highest (GI=37±1). Chickpeas (GI=6±1) has the lowest and mungbean (GI=15±1)

TPTrinidad, Scientist II, NFRDD

the highest GI, among the legumes. Legumes have significantly lower GIs than root crops (P<0.05). The lower the GIs of the food, the better they are in the proper control and management of diabetes mellitus and in maintaining our weights.

How can root crops and legumes prevent risk for cardiovascular disease? As good sources of dietary fiber, they can prevent the re-absorption of bile acids in our liver. Bile acids are converted to cholesterol in the liver and go to our blood and increase serum cholesterol responsible for developing plaques in our arteries.

What may be the possible role of root crops and legumes in the prevention for risk of cancer? According to a study by the FNRI-DOST, the dietary fiber present in root crops and legumes are fermented in the large intestine or colon into short chain fatty acids (SCFA). SCFA bind with toxins and are excreted in the feces. These toxins are present in the colon and are responsible in the formation of tumors and cancer.

Nutrition Communication and Technology Transfer”. The project has been dubbed as Siglang Pinoy in the six project sites in food poor premises.

The nutritionschool.ph has been gaining a number of hits and visits. This e-learning website aims to impart knowledge to nutritionists and non-nutritionists who have the passion for health and well-being and to learn at their own pace.

The future looks bright for the following year. Everyone’s participation

to achieve the mandates need an equal contribution of visualizing and building a socially and economically empowered Philippines by optimal nutrition and technology transfers.

As the holiday season embraces another yet fruitful year, there are so many inspirations in store for 2011. And like a classic Christmas song goes, “…although it’s been said many times, many ways… Merry Christmas to you!”.

Director’s Message... from p. 2

MARIO V. CAPANZANA, Ph.D.Director

3FNRIDigest

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Alam ng karamihan na ang gatas ng ina o “mother’s milk” ang pinakamabuti at pinakamahusay na pagkain para sa sanggol sa unang anim

na buwan para sa kanyang mabilis na paglusog at paglaki.

Ayon sa pinakahuling survey ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute ng Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), mas mataas ang porsiyento ng mga ina na eklusibong nagpapasuso (exclusive breastfeeding) ng sanggol noong 2008 (35.94%) kumpara noong 2003 (29.7%).

Ngunit kung ang haba o duration ng eklusibong nagpapasuso ang titingnan, mas maikli noong 2008 (2.3 buwan) kumpara noong 2003 (3.0 buwan)

Pagsapit ng ika-anim na buwan ng sanggol, ang gatas ng ina ay hindi na sapat sa kanyang pangangailangan kaya kailangan ang complementary foods.

Ayon din sa nasabing survey, lumabas na ang mga karaniwang complementary foods na ibinibigay sa sanggol pagsapit ng anim na buwan ay ang lugaw, mga commercially prepared infant foods, minasang pula ng itlog o mashed egg yolk, prutas at gulay.

Ngunit ang tubig at tubig na may asukal ay ibinibigay na mas maaga sa anim na buwan, ayon pa sa survey.

Tandaan na ang pagbibigay ng complementary foods ay dapat napapanahon, sapat, ligtas at angkop.

Napapanahon ang karagdagang pagkain bukod sa gatas ng ina pagkatapos ng anim na buwan at pataas. Sapat ito kung nasa tamang dami .

Ligtas ang pagkain ng sanggol kung ito ay malinis at walang nilalamang maaaring magbigay ng sakit. Angkop ito kung nasa tamang consistency o lapot o labnaw.

Narito ang ilang tagubilin tungkol sa wastong pagdulot o pagbibigay ng pagkain sa sanggol:

1. Karaniwan, pagkatapos ng ika-anim na buwan, ang sanggol ay handa na sa karagdagang pagkain.

Mga nanay na ekslusibong nagpapasuso dumami - FNRIMIGGlorioso, Sr.SRS, TDSTSD

Subukan kung siya ay handa na sa pagtanggap ng bagong pagkain sa pamamagitan ng paglalagay ng kutsarita sa kanyang bibig:

• Kung isinasara ng sanggol ang bibig o patuloy na itinutulak ang kutsarita, ang sanggol ay hindi pa handa. Huwag na munang pilitin ang sanggol.

• Kung ang sanggol ay magpakita naman ng pagtanggap ng pagkain sa pamamagitan ng kutsarita, simulang dulutan ng malabnaw na lugaw. Gawing malapot kung sanay na. Unti-unting idagdag ang linigis, hinimay at hiniwang maliliit na pagkain habang lumalaki ang sanggol.

2. Pasimulan ang pagdudulot ng bagong pagkain na mas kaunti kaysa sa itinatagubiling dami.

3. Iwasan ang pagdudulot ng sabay ng dalawang bagong uri ng pagkain. Sanayin muna ang sanggol ng 2-3 araw sa bawa’t pagkain. Halimbawa, dulutan ang inyong sanggol ng papaya. Sanayin muna ang inyong sanggol sa papaya sa loob ng 2-3 araw bago dulutan uli ng ibang uri ng prutas tulad ng saging o mangga.

4. Ipakita ang inyong kasiyahan habang kumakain ang sanggol upang mawili siyang kumain ng iba’t-ibang pagkain.

5. Painumin ang sanggol ng tubig sa pagitan ng pagpapakain para sa mahusay na panunaw.

6. Sa ika-pitong buwan, turuan ang sanggol na uminom ng tubig at ibang likido mula sa tasa.

7. Bigyan ng pagkaing tinadtad nang pino kapag nagkangipin ang bata. Ang biskotso o malutong na tinapay ay mainam ibigay.

8. Iwasan ang pagbibigay ng mga maalat na pagkain na makapipinsala sa kanyang bato at mga pagkaing matatamis na magiging sanhi ng labis na timbang at pagkasira ng ngipin.

9. Tanging bagong lutong pagkain o bagong talop na prutas lang ang ipakakain sa sanggol. Iwasan ang pagbibigay ng mga tirang pagkain sa sanggol.

Tandaan na kahit ang inyong sanggol ay tumatanggap ng ibang pagkain, kailangan pa ring ipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng gatas ng ina.

Sa wastong pagkain, higit na lulusog at sisigla ang inyong sangol.■

4 FNRI Digest

a small amount of meat, shrimp or small fish then seasoned with salt or fish sauce to taste.

Vegetables cooked with coconut milk are more commonly prepared by Bicolanos and Visayans. Famous examples of vegetables cooked in coconut milk are gabi for laing, and nangka. Ginataang nangka is sometimes called salad na nangka by Visayans.

Another common method of cooking vegetables is adding scrambled egg such as tortang talong and ampalaya fruit.

In general, Filipinos are not meeting the required intake of vegetables in their diet. Based on the latest National Nutrition Survey in 2008 of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), vegetable intake made up only 12.8 percent of the total food intake compared to 12.5 percent in 2003.

Vegetables are needed for proper regulation of body processes. They are rich sources of several vitamins and minerals. Green leafy vegetables like kangkong, camote tops, malunggay, gabi, ampalaya and others are rich sources of beta-carotene, iron, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, calcium and other minerals. Yellow vegetables such as squash, carrots and tomatoes are also rich in beta-carotene. Vegetables are rich in dietary fiber which prevent constipation by providing roughage for easier bowel movement. They are also rich sources of anti-oxidants to prevent certain diseases like cancer.

Three servings of vegetables, about one-half cup cooked per serving, are suggested for daily consumption. Two messages of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos recommend eating a variety of food everyday and to consume vegetables, fruits and rootcrops. These messages can be realized if the vegetables in the song Bahay Kubo are eaten regularly. This is especially true for children, to whom we teach the song. The song would make them appreciate and become more familiar with the vegetables in the song.

Now, try singing Bahay Kubo and think which vegetables you would like to eat in your next meal.

Bahay Kubo sings a variety of veggies for the pickingCAJavier, SRS I, TDSTSD

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Who could not recognize the song Bahay Kubo? A classic Filipino nursery song with lyrics of which mention many different local

vegetables (...Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari...). Filipinos use, mix and cook vegetables in different methods and call them in different terms. Want to start singing the song?

Filipinos like vegetables cooked most often through sauteing (gisa), boiling, or cook with coconut milk (ginataan). Across the country, there are similarities among the dishes served at home and in canteens or restaurants.

For example, dinengdeng, and law-uy, are two dishes of Ilocano and Visayan origin, respectively. However, both include several leafy and fruit vegetables as ingredients, cooked by boiling and without the use of cooking oil. For dinengdeng, leafy vegetables (e.g. saluyot, ampalaya leaves, squash flower, stringbeans tops, malunggay, etc.) are mixed together. Grilled fish is commonly added and fish paste (bagoong) is used to enhance the taste of the dish. As for law-uy, leafy and fruit vegetables (okra, eggplant, alugbati, kangkong, etc.) are mixed, and fish is also often added using salt to taste.

Ginisa is a popular method of cooking among Tagalogs in preparing vegetables. Fruit vegetables such as upo, sitaw, kalabasa, puso ng saging and sayote, among others are often sautéed. Vegetables are cooked in a small portion of oil with garlic and

6FNRI Digest

Why the shift from NCHS-IRS to WHO-CGS?

The Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990 recognized that every child has inherent right to life and that state parties shall ensure

to the maximum extent possible for the ‘survival and development’ of the child. This was further emphasized in the World Fit for Children in 2002 which also recognized that the care for every child is the essential foundation of human development. This includes their survival, protection, growth and development through proper nutrition.

Consequently, growth is associated with economic development. This is because malnutrition leads to direct losses in productivity from poor physical status; indirect losses from poor cognitive function and deficits in schooling; and losses owing to increased health care cost. The World Bank (2000) therefore recognized that improving nutrition is also an issue of economics like welfare, social protection and human rights.

The United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which the world economies are committed to achieve by 2015, target infants and young children under-five years old. These age groups are the “windows of opportunity” whereby the world economies can gain high returns in economic growth in the long run. For countries with limited resources, interventions can be focused for these children thereby reducing death and disease, and avoiding irreversible harm on their growth and development.

With these scenarios, it is therefore inevitable to have a growth reference that will truly define the child’s nutrition and health status for proper management towards the improvement of his/her nutritional well-being.

In 2003, the Philippines adopted the National Center for Health Statistics-International Reference Standards (NCHS-IRS) for assessing the nutritional status of Filipino children. However, a comprehensive review of the growth patterns of healthy breastfed infants conducted by a World Health Organization (WHO) working group, revealed different results using the NCHS-IRS. The current NCHS-IRS therefore does not adequately assess the nutritional status of

individual infants. When a tool provides inaccurate community estimates of under and overnutrition, it becomes inappropriate for assessing populations and increases the risk to morbidity and mortality.

In 2006, the WHO, in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the Child Growth Standards (CGS) for children, 0-5 years old. The CGS was based on the Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) undertaken by the WHO between 1997 and 2003 to generate new growth curves for assessing the growth and development of infants and young children around the world.

In the Philippines, the adoption of the new WHO-CGS was strengthened by virtue of the NNC Governing Board Resolution No.2 which was signed by the DOH Secretary on the 27th of June 2008. The reasons for the shift from NCHS-IRS and the adoption of WHO-CGS are the innovative aspects of the latter which are enumerated in the Revised Policy on Child Growth Standard (AO 2010-0015) as follows:

• to give deeper meaning to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), specifically the target on the prevalence reduction of underweight among children, 0-5 years old, since the growth of Filipino children will be bench- marked on the best possibility for their growth;

• allows comparison of the growth of Filipino children against the single international standard that represents the best description of physiological growth for all children from birth to five years of age as opposed to describing growth as a reference;

• shows that even a child in any part of the world regardless of ethnicity, has the potential to grow and develop as long as the child’s basic needs are met. These needs include giving optimal nutrition through administration of breastmilk from birth to six months, giving of appropriate, safe, and adequate complementary foods for six months onwards; providing optimal environment with no microbiological contamination and smoke-free environment; and providing optimal health care

MLPatalen-Dasco, Sr.SRS, NAMD

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7FNRIDigest

The latest nutrition survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-

DOST) in 2008 noted that the calcium intakes of Filipinos are inadequate.

A large proportion of Filipino households or 88.5 percent is not meeting the average requirements for calcium. Thus, only 11.5 percent or one in every 10 Filipino households meets the average recommendation for calcium. The consumption of

Filipinos for milk and milk products decreased by seven grams, from 49 grams per capita per day in 2003 to 42 grams per capita per day in 2008.

The most important dietary sources of calcium are milk and milk products. Milk and milk products contain highly absorbable calcium and are also good sources of other vital nutritional elements including high quality protein for building and repairing of body tissues, and vitamin A for better eyesight and healthy skin. Dairy products are also rich in riboflavin for the normal functioning of the nervous system, cobalamin or Vitamin B12 for maturation of red blood cells and even phosphorus for proper bones and teeth development.

Aside from milk and milk products, there are other sources of calcium like fish, especially the small ones eaten with bones like dilis and sardines, small shrimps or alamang, soy bean curd or tofu and tokwa, and green leafy vegetables like malunggay leaves, saluyot, alugbati and mustasa.

One should include milk and milk products and other calcium-rich foods like small fishes and green leafy vegetables in the daily diet to meet the requirement for calcium,. For non-milk drinkers, add milk to casseroles, cheese sauces, fruit shakes, dips, puddings, mashed potato, and halo-halo to get considerable benefits from milk as well.

Calcium intake of Filipinos still low – FNRI SurveyMIGGlorioso, Sr.SRS, TDSTSD

through continual visits to a health care facility for immunization and vaccinations, and other pediatric routines.

• establishes the breastfed infant as the normative model for growth and development, consistent with national and international guidelines that recognize breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for infants;

• detects malnutrition long before signs and symptoms become apparent and therefore, allowing focus on preventive and promotive

interventions rather than rehabilitative/curative measures and reaching more at-risk children; and

• includes core development milestones that healthy children are expected to achieve for a specific age ranges.

The new WHO-CGS therefore, is considered to be the growth chart of the 21st century and as very useful in the conduct of growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) and Operation Timbang activities in the country as well as other assessment studies.

Why the shift from NCHS-IRS... from p. 6

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DOST Visayas Cluster Regional S&T Fair September 28 to 30, 2010 at Robinson’s Mall, Dumaguete City

Pilot Plant visit and tour of cooperative members from Hagonoy, Bulacan on

October 22, 2010

(Left and Middle) Dr. Mario V. Capanzana with local government officials for Sulong Pinoy Program and (Right) Dr. Capanzana and Regional Director Edgardo M. Esperancilla of DOST Region VIII talking about the program in

AC-VL Aksyon Diaryo Teleradyo on October 14, 2011 in Tacloban City

Dr. Zenaida V. Narciso in the project briefing of the “Empowering Stakeholders of the Hunger Mitigation Program through Nutrition Communication and Technology Transfer” (dubbed as Siglang Pinoy Project), with local government officials of

Masbate on October 14, 2010

Policy Research Training Workshop of NIEPS with speakers Dr. Fely Marilyn Lorenzo and Professor Jennifer dela Rosa on October 26 to 28, 2010 at the

FNRI Training Room

Echo Seminar about the Laws and Rules on Government Expenditures headed by Dr. Ferdinand B. Oamar on November 19, 2010

at the FNRI Meeting Room

“Harampang ha Pia” talk show featuring NUTRICOMNET-Leyte Media

Forum on November 16, 2010

First taping of Rx Nutrisyon at Kalusugan Nutrition IsKool with Dr. Trinidad P. Trinidad (Left) and Dr. Zenaida V. Narciso (Right) at IBC 13 on December 6, 2010

NUTRICOMNET Media Forum in Borongan, Eastern Samar on

November 18, 2010

Launching of SupeRice in Zambales on November 22-25, 2010

The 5th Asian Congress of Dietetics attended by Dr. Celeste C. Tanchoco and Dr. Zenaida

V. Narciso as presentors in Bangkok, Thailand on November 10-12, 2010

Updates on Nutrition Research & Development headed by Dr. Celeste C. Tanchoco on October

29, 2010 at the FNRI Training Room

Model Employees with their certificates at the FNRI Christmas Party with the theme “Above All, Christmas is About Christ” at the FNRI Lanai on

December 17, 2010

(Left) FNRI’s presentation in DOST’s Gut Talent and (Right) FNRI’s Belen won “Most Creative Use of Materials” in the Belen Making Contest during the DOST Christmas

Party “Ignite the Mind” at the DOST Compound on December 20, 2010

Staff presentation at the FNRI Christmas Party with the theme “Above All, Christmas is

About Christ” at the FNRI Lanai on December 17, 2010

FNRF turns over Sulong FNRI! FundARAguinaldo, Ph.D., Guest Writer

Planning Officer IV, and one of the members of the Technical Working Group on the WHO-CGS. This was highlighted by the presentation of the nutritional status of children, 0-19 years old, based on the WHO-CGS by Ms. Corazon M. Cerdena, Chief of the Nutritional Assessment and Monitoring Division.

The plenary session provided a walk-through on the evolution

FNRI releases anthropometric... from p. 1

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10FNRI Digest

News Flash

On the occasion of the 5th year of the Sulong FNRI! Project and the 63rd

Founding Anniversary of the FNRI, the Sulong FNRI! fund amounting to Php 285,381.60 was turned over to the FNRI Director, Dr. Mario V. Capanzana. This was done by the Food and Nutrition Research Foundation (FNRF) through the Sulong FNRI! Committee headed by Ms. Emerina C. Eusebio and Ms. Pacita M. Reyes, as Chair and Co-Chair, respectively.

The fund was an initiative of the FNRI alumni here and abroad as well as of current employees of the FNRI for the improvement of the FNRI Dormitory. What started as a spontaneous suggestion during the 2005 celebration of the 88th birthday of Ms. Isabel C. Abdon, a former Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Deputy Director, became a response of local and overseas FNRI alumni. This served as a manifestation of their support

to the FNRI’s continuing R&D and S&T programs and contribution to the legacy of public service. This is also their expression of sincere gratitude for their meaningful lives lived at the FNRI.

Dr. Carmen Ll. Intengan, second FNRI Director in 1947, initiated the 138 fund donors with a donation of Php 100,000.00.

of the different standards and references, and information on the value of the use of the WHO-CGS in anthropometric assessment. Moreover, the session also allowed an appreciation of the application of the WHO-CGS in the re-analyzed results of the anthropometric survey component where priority areas and vulnerable groups for immediate intervention were identified.

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A panel of discussants was invited to give their individual points of view on the re-analyzed results. The varied backgrounds of the discussants added more meaningful inputs to the presentation. The discussants were composed of Honorable Angelo B. Palmones, representative of AGHAM Party List, Ms. Hygeia Ceres B. Gawe, from the National Nutrition Council,

The Food and Nutrition Research Foundation (FNRF) turns over the Sulong FNRI! fund to the FNRI Director, Dr. Mario V. Capanzana.

The making of FCT - a glimpseEMAvena, Sr. SRS, FRDG

High production cost – one of the first things that come to mind when we see good movie productions.

The production of a food composition table (FCT) is akin to that of a movie production. But more than that, FCT production can extend well over several years depending of course on the availability of resources, among others.

Such is the experience shared by a notable food composition expert who recently came to FNRI to lecture on the “Generation and Compilation of Food Composition Data – the Brazilian Experience” last November 10, 2010. Dr. Delia Rodriquez-Amaya, is a Bicolana balikbayan now based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is a faculty of the University of Campinas and a world renowned expert in carotenoids.

One of the first to spearhead the Brazilian FCT, Dr. Amaya spelled out the requirements for the production of food composition tables highlighting the seemingly endless consultations with experts regarding the formulation of plans.

Dr. Amaya specially stressed the role of a statistician in the conduct of the project. More than

conformance to the sampling design, she strongly emphasized the need for ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories to generate the food composition data.

The Brazil FCT is a showcase of an effective voluntarism – the commitment of dedicated professionals working without pay on this particular endeavor. Braving the challenges of embarking on a very expensive project with minimal initial budget in late 90’s, they came out with the first edition of their FCT in 2004 for only about 198 food items. The first FCT edition caught the interest of funding agencies. To date, the Brazil FCT has enough funding and support to see it through a sustainable production.

But what are FCTs in the first place? Food composition tables or FCTs as it is commonly called is the repository of data on the nutrient values of foods. It serves a variety of users from international organizations to the national government, professionals and ordinary housewives. It is used for planning on food assistance, laying down policies for food security, improving the nutritional status of the citizenry, trading regulations and evaluating diets and menu planning.

For the Philippines, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute is the only data generator and compiler for the FCT. Our FCT is one of the best selling publications of the FNRI as more and more colleges and universities offering courses in food and nutrition are requiring their students to have a copy of the FCT. Currently, efforts are being directed at slowly updating our 1997 edition in terms of additional food items and health food components.

The lecture on the generation and compilation of food composition tables gave an insight on the different stages in the process. Although Dr. Amaya initially thought that the topic would not be very interesting, it actually sparked a very lively and informative question and answer session at the same time served as an eye-opener to most participants. Some remarked they had not realized how complex FCT production is. ■

11FNRI Digest

Ms. Teresita Portugal hands the certificate of appreciation to Dr. Delia Rodriguez-Amaya

MMAguilos, Planning Officer III

ASEAN nutrition experts convene to discussinfant and young child nutrition

Last November 16, 2010, the International Life Sciences Institute – Southeast Asia Region (ILSI SEAR) Singapore, and the Food and

Nutrition Research Institute- Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) gathered nutrition experts from the Philippines and nearby ASEAN countries at the Mandarin Oriental, Makati City, Philippines. This was for the purpose of convening the “Workshop on Infant and Young Child Nutrition: Improving Nutrition and Health Status of Infants and Young Children in the Philippines”. Around 50 nutrition experts representing medical practitioners specifically pediatricians, health care professionals/providers, policy makers, researchers, educators, and non-government organizations heeded to the invitation of the organizers.

The workshop provided a venue to share the latest updates on the nutritional and health status of infants and young children, pregnant and lactating women in selected ASEAN countries. It helped identify key nutrient deficiencies found to affect the optimal growth of infants and young children. The gathering also gave an opportunity for experts to share relevant experience, approaches and strategies as well as findings from intervention programs from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The workshop became a productive forum for discussion

on strategies to combat malnutrition among infants and young children in the Philippines.

The welcome remarks were given by Ms. Yeong Boon Yee of Singapore and Dr. Mario V. Capanzana of FNRI. During the Plenary Session, speakers from FNRI-DOST, University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) and University of San Carlos, Cebu City gave a presentation on Nutrition and Health Landscape of Infants and Young Children in the Philippines. These were followed by country presentations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam on young child nutrition, recommendations and nutrition programs.

The pool of speakers from the Philippines were Mildred O. Guirindola, Senior Science Research Specialist of FNRI-DOST; Professor Theresa M. Talavera, Director of the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food in UPLB and; Dr. Judith Rafaelita B. Borja, Deputy Director, Office of Population Studies, University of San Carlos. From the ASEAN region, the invited speakers were Professor Widjaja Lukito of SEAMEO-TROPMED Regional Center for Community Nutrition, Indonesia; Dr. Tee E. Siong, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultant, Malaysia; Professor Pattanee Winichagoon from the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Thailand and; Professor Le Thi Hop of the National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam. 13

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Nutrition experts from around Southeast Asia attend the Workshop on Infant and Young Child Nutrition: Improving Nutrition and Heath Status of Infants and Young Children in the Philippines on November 16, 2010 at Mandarin Oriental, Makati City

FNRI-FIERC renews its contract with FNRIMMAguilos, Planning Officer III

The members of the reconstituted FNRI Institutional Ethics Review Committee (FIERC) convened last September 8, 2010 to renew

their contracts as chairperson and members of the committee. Among those present during the meeting were Dr. Gemiliano D. Aligui, Chairperson of the FIERC and Dr. Fidelino F. Malbas, Chairperson of the Sub-committee on Laboratory Animal Use. Members of the FIERC were in the meeting to oversea the event, namely: Rev. Fr. Leonardo E. Dollentas of Arellano University; Dr. Marie Joy B. Arguillas of UP Diliman, Mrs. Evelyn C. Villapando of Malvar, Batangas, and Mildred A. Udarbe of FNRI-DOST. Dr. Rodolfo F. Florentino, the committee co-chair and Dr. Rosario S. Sagum, member of the Sub-committee on Laboratory Animal Use were unable to make it to the meeting due to previous commitments. FNRI Director

Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Ms.Teresa S. Mendoza and Ms. Marilita A. Aguilos of the Planning and Evaluation Unit were in the meeting to oversee the event.

The meeting was highlighted with the presentation of the accomplishments of the committee for 2009. For the past year, the committee was able to review and give ethical clearance to 6 projects of the FNRI-DOST. Of the 6 projects, 4 were already completed and the other 2 are due to for completion by the end of 2010.

With this renewal of commitment, the FIERC for the next two years will continually ensure that ethical principles are considered in the conduct of the Institute’s food and nutrition research and development (R&D) projects and nutrition surveys which use humans and laboratory animals.

In the afternoon, the participants were divided into 3 groups for the workshop. The question posed to the participants was “What Strategies are effective to Combat Nutritional Inadequacies of Filipino Children?”. Dr. Jossie Rogacion of the UP-PGH and Dr. Celeste C. Tanchoco of FNRI-DOST acted as Chair and Co-Chair of the Workshop. Dr. Rebecca Castro of UST Hospital, Ms. Ma. Lourdes A. Vega of the National Nutrition Council and Dr. Rodolfo F. Florentino of ILSI-Philippines reported the outputs of their respective groups.

At the closing of the workshop, Ms. Pauline Chan of ILSI-Singapore thanked the participants for sharing their inputs and said that the workshop outputs were very timely for inclusion in the Medium Term Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, 2011-2016. The plan is currently being crafted. The workshop outputs would hopefully be translated into concrete programs and projects that will address the nutritional status of infants and young children in the Philippines.

ASEAN expert convene to discuss... from p. 12

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FIERC renews contracts with chairperson and members of the committee on September 8, 2010 at the FNRI Conference Room

A well rounded personality – nutritionist-dietitian, researcher, communicator,

academician and a leader rolled into one. These are just few words to describe DR. ZENAIDA VILLAMIN NARCISO.

Born on April 2, 1954 in Sta. Ana, Manila, Dr. Narciso is among the four children of Delfin Ramos Narciso and the former Fabiana Marquinez Villamin, both deceased. Being the youngest and the only girl in the family, she is fondly called “Baby” by family and friends in their community. In the office however, she is better known as Zeny to friends and collegues and Doc Zen or Ate Zen to subordinates.

She spent most of her childhood

days with her parents and three older siblings in a modest property near the Sta. Ana Race Track. She fondly remembers the wide capiz windows of the wooden house built by her parents after marriage.

She finished her elementary education in 1966 and spent her first year high school in 1967 at Paco Catholic School. The family moved residence when she was about to enter her second year in high school. She transferred to

Colegio de Santa Isabel in Naga City to continue and finish her high school in 1970.

In the late 1960s, her parents were into food catering and canteen concessionaire business and this could have been one of the reasons why she pursued a nutrition course in college. She graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Community Nutrition at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1975.

After graduation from college, she had a short stint as a dietary researcher at the University of the Philippines Diliman from September 1975 to March 1976. She then pursued her more than 34 years of career at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) from June 1976 to the present. She rose from the ranks having started as a contractual employee at the Community Nutrition Research Section (CNRS) under Dr. Ofelia Valdecañas. In less than a year, she got a permanent position as Science Research Associate I. From that time on she held several positions and worked in various capacities as researcher, planning officer and officer-in-charge of the Administrative Division.

Dr. Narciso was granted several scholarships. The first one was in 1984-1985 when she took her Master in Community Nutrition at the University of Queensland in Australia sponsored by the Australian Development Assistance Bureau (ADAB). She was a recipient of the RP-Japan Friendship Program travel grant in June to July 1988 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). She also received

a scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for her doctoral degree in Development Communication which she finished in 2000 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

A hardworking student, Doc Zen became an honor student for coursework in Ph.D. As a diligent and conscientious worker, she also garnered a Division Model Employee Award at the FNRI when she was planning officer. For having served FNRI for more than 34 years, she was granted several loyalty awards for meritorious service by the FNRI and DOST.

She has authored several researches, some of which were published in local and international journals. She has also presented papers in several local and international conferences.

Dr. Narciso has served as thesis adviser to many BSND students. She was invited to sit as thesis panel member by several masteral students at the University of the Philippines Manila and University of the Philippines Diliman. She was Philippine counterpart thesis adviser for a student in MS Nutrition & Health at the University of Wageningen in Netherlands for a study on “Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Adolescents in Public Schools in Manila”. She was critic-reader to a Ph.D. in Nutrition student at the University of the Philippines Diliman for a dissertation on “Nutritional Learning Styles of Selected Elementary Pupils of Silang, Cavite”

Human Resources in Focus

RMPagaspas, Sr. SRS, TDSTSD

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and Honorable Arlene Arcillas- Nazareno, Mayor of the City of Sta. Rosa in Laguna. Ms. Gawe presented some issues and concerns raised by the local government units in the adoption of the WHO-CGS as well as updates on the Training of Trainers conducted throughout the country. On the other hand, Representative Palmones and Mayor Nazareno accepted the challenges and committed to support plans and programs aimed at reducing malnutrition among children.

Dr. Jocelyn A. Juguan, Supervising Science Research Specialist of Nutritional Assessment Section of the Nutrional Assessment and Monitoring Division (NAS-NAMD) synthesized the whole day’s activities. The program culminated with closing remarks from Dr. Celeste C. Tanchoco, the Chief of Nutrion R&D Division (NRDD) and Officer-in-Charge in the Office of the Deputy Director.

Oftentimes, Dr. Narciso acts as resource person and lecturer in various symposia and training. She is also frequently seen on TV and heard over the radio for media interview.

As part of her continous effort to learn and grow professionally, she has attended numerous trainings and seminars since the time she was employed at FNRI.

Doc Zen is also a well-known personality in her own right, for she has been in the nutrition community for more than three decades now. She is a lifetime member of the Philippine Society of Nutritionist-Dietitians (PSND) Inc. She has also been actively involved in the PSND for sometime as Secretary, Vice President, PRO and member of Board of

Directors. She was editor-in-chief of PSND publications namely the Nutrisyon Journal in 1994 and 1995 and the Catalyst in 2005 and 2006. She is also a member of other professional organizations such as the Philippine Association of Nutrition (PAN), Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines (NDAP) and Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity (PASOO).

She has also been active in employees’ organizations having been the Secretary of the Buklod ng Kabataang Kawani (BKK), FNRI Chapter in the late 70s and President of the Socio-Cultural and Moral Activities Club (SCMAC) from in the middle 80s.

Her love for nurturing young people was realized when she

started teaching at the Philippine Women’s University among B.S. Food and Nutrition students in the 1980s. She went back to her love for teaching in 2001 at St. Scholastica’s College Manila among B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics (BSND) students. She also taught for a while at the College of St. Benilde-De La Salle University among B.S. HRM students.

Dr. Narciso served as Officer-in-Charge of the Deputy Director of FNRI for four years from September 2006 to August 2010 on concurrent capacity as division chief. Currently, Dr. Narciso is back full-time as Chief Science Research Specialist of the Technology Diffusion and Science and Technology Division (TDSTSD) of FNRI.

Human Resources... from p. 15

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FNRI releases anthrop... from p. 10

Library Acquisitions

DigestFNRI16

MCEPalompo, SRS I, TDSTSD

QP141D5662005A-H

Dietary reference intakes (DRI) for energy, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein and amino acids.

Washington, D.C.: National Academics Press, 205 [13] leaves

QP141D5662005Ch.1-4



Ch. 1 - Introduction to dietary reference intakesCh. 2 - Methods and approaches usedCh. 3 - Relationship of macronutrients and

physical activity to chronic diseaseCh. 4 - A model for the development of

tolerable upper intake levels.

QP141D5662005Ch. 5



Ch. 5 - Energy

QP141D5662005Ch. 7



Ch. 7 - Dietary, functional, and total fiber

QP141D5662005Ch. 8



Ch. 8 - Dietary facts: total fat and fatty acids

QP141D5662005Ch. 9



Ch. 9 - CholesterolQP141D5662005Ch. 10



Ch. 10 - Protein and amino acids

Documents

October to December 2010