Newsletter 02 2006.pdf - Sight and Life

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SIGHT AND LIFE 24 NEWSLETTER 2/2006 Palozza, Rome, Italy, discussed experiments with β-carotene in vascular cells exposed to oxysterols. Investigations on carotenoid metabolism in animals were presented by Johannes von Lintig, Freiburg, Germany. A round-table discussion on perspectives for fat-soluble vitamins led to an intense exchange between the experts, showing a lot of interesting tasks to be investigated in the next years. The discussion closed with the decision to continue the meetings in the future. Two colleagues offered to invite the scientists in 2009 to Potsdam, Germany, and in 2012 to Greece. After lunch, Diana Bellovino, Rome, Italy, presented investigations on the effect of the matrix on the bioavailability of carotenoids. Anna Iannone, Modena, Italy, discussed new results from electron spin resonance experiments investigating the antioxidant potential of α-tocopherol and lycopene. After an official reception by the Mayor of Jena all delegates used the time to have a look at the posters. Some delegates spent the afternoon break walking through the gardens of the castle grounds; others enjoyed discussing and relaxing in small groups. A dinner and music event was the highlight of the second evening. European food prepared by local cooks was combined with local wines of the most Northern vineyard in Germany and European music played by mandolins and guitars of the group “Lautengilde Jena”, conducted by the organizer of the meeting – the large hall of the castle provided a good ambience for the event. The last half-day of the conference started with an update on isomerization of lycopene presented by Volker Böhm, Jena, Germany. Emmanuelle Reboul, Marseille, France, explained which transporters are involved in the uptake of lycopene and β-carotene. Wilhelm Stahl, Düsseldorf, Germany, finished the carotenoid session with experiments showing photoprotective effects of carotenoids. In the last session of the meeting Hülya Sagmanligil Özdemir, Van, Turkey, presented results on fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin levels in newborn babies and their relation to the maternal vitamin status. Patrick Borel, Marseille, France, talked about different lipases being responsible for hydrolysis of retinyl palmitate. Three awards for the best posters, elected by all delegates, some concluding remarks and a farewell finished two very efficient days within the old walls of Dornburg Castle. All delegates left the conference venue more relaxed than when they arrived, which could well be an additional effect of the charming atmosphere and the small number of delegates. All were invited to come to the 14 th European Meeting on Fat-Soluble Vitamins that will take place in 2009 in Potsdam, Germany, organized by Florian J. Schweigert and his team.
NEWSLETTER 2/2006 25 SIGHT AND LIFE Protecting nutritional status and the role of micronutrient premix in the United Nations World Food Programme’s response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami World Food Programme, Regional Bureau for Asia, Wave Place Building, 7th Floor, 55 Wireless Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Immediate relief The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26 December 2004 presented the humanitarian community with one of the largest challenges it had ever faced. The United Nations World Food Programme responded with an immediate and massive relief effort that eventually became one of the most complex operations the organization had ever undertaken, spanning six countries, two continents, and millions of beneficiaries. While the primary focus of the immediate response was providing life-sustaining food aid to those whose houses, fields, crops and livelihoods had been washed away, WFP also sought to shore up the nutritional status of groups made vulnerable by the tsunami – in particular children, new mothers and the elderly. In such situations, ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare fortified foods play a key role. Within days of the tsunami, WFP found itself required to deliver large quantities of such foods to the crisis zone in record time. In Aceh and Nias, WFP had not been providing fortified foods prior to the tsunami, so it turned to countries in the region, such as Bangladesh, where WFP was producing such foods in large quantities . DSM, which is one of WFP’s primary private-sector partners in nutrition, responded quickly through SIGHT AND LIFE to WFP’s requests for assistance by donating micronutrient premix – enough to fortify over 5,000 metric tons of high-energy biscuits. Such biscuits are used primarily in WFP’s school feeding programs, as a mid-morning snack designed to help prevent micronutrient deficiencies among school children. They are also extremely useful in emergencies, as they are lightweight and easy to transport, yet provide high nutritional and caloric value. SIGHT AND LIFE’s donation was delivered to factories in Bangladesh that produce fortified biscuits for WFP. The donation allowed WFP to release large quantities of fortified biscuits in Bangladesh and send them to countries across the crisis zone. Planes filled with biscuits started leaving Dhaka on 13 January. By the end of January, 700 metric tons of biscuits had been shipped to Aceh, Indonesia, by both air and sea. This was a major donation, representing 15% of the total amount of biscuits used in the entire tsunami operation in 2005. The biscuits sent to Indonesia were enough to provide nutritional supplementation to over 300,000 children aged 3 to 12 years for three months. Mid- and long-term relief By May 2005, WFP was providing daily food rations to 2.25 million people across the tsunami zone – in Aceh and Nias in Indonesia, School feeding in Banda Aceh. WFP/ Barry Came. Girls with high-energy biscuits, Aceh, Indonesia. WFP/ A K Kimoto.
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