PS Shetty

• MD, PhD
• Executive at M S Swamininathan Research Foundation

The concept of food security developed over the last 50 or more years addressed primarily the need for the production and access to adequate food grains to feed the world's increasing population. Nutrition security, a later development, was a much broader concept since nutritious and safe diets alongside adequate biological and proper social enviro...

Advances in agriculture and food systems, consequent increases in food availability, and a shift in dietary consumption patterns with economic development and urbanization of developing societies leads to adverse health outcomes. The structure of the habitual diet is altered and is characterized by increasing consumption of fats, saturated fats lar...

Background India is undergoing rapid epidemiological and nutritional transition largely as a consequence of rapid urbanisation. We investigated conventional and novel cardiovascular risk factors in rural and urban Indian men and studied their association with markers of vascular damage.Methods We randomly selected and studied 149 rural, 142 urban s...

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition is a high quality, peer-reviewed journal that covers all aspects of human nutrition.

The poor quality of the habitual diet and the lack of dietary diversity in much of the developing world contribute to deficiencies of micronutrients. Micronutrient malnutrition is a global problem much bigger than hunger and imposes enormous costs on societies in terms of ill health, lives lost, reduced economic productivity and poor quality of lif...

Following the publication of a paper titled ‘Vitamin D replacement in pregnant women in rural North India: a pilot study’ by Sahu et al. (Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 1157–1159), a Letter to the Editor was received from DE Roth (doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.1). The Letter and a Response to the letter by the authors, led by the corresponding author V Bhatia (doi:10...

Infectious diseases are an important cause of malnutrition. Recurrent infections increase the risk of malnutrition while poor nutritional status results in lowered immune status and predisposes to infectious disease thus propagating the vicious cycle of infection and malnutrition. The nutrition-infection-immunity axis is crucial for both developed...

Helicobacter pylori infection and linear growth deficits among school children in México - Volume 69 Issue OCE3 - F. Jiménez-Guerra, P. S. Shetty, A. V. Kurpad

Addressing the challenges of global food security will benefit from the simultaneous incorporation of nutritional priorities that contribute to the good health of populations. Inclusion of nutritional considerations, when increasing availability and access to food, broadens the scope and objectives of agriculture and food production and thus contri...

Cardiovascular responses to sustained isometric hand grip were investigated in 18 healthy adult males, six of whom were undernourished labourers with a low body mass index. The undernourished subjects had the lowest basal systolic blood pressure and demonstrated the smallest rises in systolic and mean arterial pressure following sustained isometric...

There is uncertainty about the importance of plasma levels of homocysteine, vitamin B-12, and folate for all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in older people. We examined the associations between plasma levels of folate, vitamin B-12, and homocysteine, and all-cause and CVD mortality among community-dwelling adults aged > or = 75 y...

To determine the nature of the relationship between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in pre- and post-harvest seasons among adult Ethiopian farmers. A total of 491 healthy adult men aged 18-60 years were recruited at pre-harvest season and followed up at post-harvest season. Anthropometric measurements (wei...

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the higher prevalence of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in urban compared with rural Indian men is related to their higher adiposity (percentage body fat) and the associated inflammatory state. We studied 149 rural, 142 urban slum and 150 urban middle-class male residents (age 30-50 years...

Obesity is recognized as a serious problem in the industrialized and developed countries of the world. However, little attention is paid to the fact that obesity is becoming an increasing problem in developing countries too, with some countries showing increasing rates of obesity in the midst of the persisting occurrence of childhood malnutrition a...

The FAO World Food Summit (WFS) in 1996 set the goal of halving the numbers of the global population suffering hunger by the year 2015, which was later incorporated into the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that commit the international community to an expanded vision of development, and one that vigorously promotes human development as the ke...

There were two objectives: first, to review the existing data on energy costs of specified activities in the light of the recommendations made by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations University (FAO/WHO/UNU) Expert Consultation of 1985. Second, to compile existing data on the energy costs of physical...

To describe issues related to energy requirements of free living adults and discuss the importance of basal metabolic rate (BMR) and their relationships to total energy expenditure (TEE ) and physical activity level (PAL, derived as TEE/BMR) and to determine the influence of body weight, height, age and sex. Based on a review of the literature, thi...

Considerable increases in food consumption, shifts in consumption patterns and changes in the entire food system have occurred globally. These changes, initially limited to the industrialized world, are now being experienced at an even faster pace in many of the advanced economies of the developing world. The past evolution of this transition in nu...

(Outcome of the New Nutrition Science Giessen workshop). Now is the time for the science of nutrition, with its application in food and nutrition policy, to be given a broader definition, additional dimensions and relevant principles, to meet the challenges and opportunities faced by humankind in the twenty-first century. As originally conceived an...

Objective: To specify the principles, definition and dimensions of the new nutrition science. Purpose: To identify nutrition, with its application in food and nutrition policy, as a science with great width and breadth of vision and scope, in order that it can fully contribute to the preservation, maintenance, development and sustenance of life on...

(This statement by all the participants in the Giessen workshop precedes the longer commentary with a similar title also available here on ResearchGate). To specify the principles, definition and dimensions of the new nutrition science. To identify nutrition, with its application in food and nutrition policy, as a science with great width and bread...

Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and related disorders. The current classification of obesity is based on body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), which is a surrogate for the total body fat. Since the relationship between BMI and body fat varies in different populations, an independent validation of the BMI-body fat relationship in the populatio...

To assess the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), milk output and physical activity level (PAL) of chronically malnourished lactating women using the doubly labelled water method (DLW). Prospective, longitudinal study designed to assess the extent of malnutrition and energetics of lactating tea workers and nontea workers. North-east Bangladesh o...

This study examines the relationship between actual weight status and perceptions of body weight in Bahraini adolescents. The study also investigates the adolescents' perceptions of parents' and peers' opinions of weight. A cross-sectional survey of 447 Bahraini male and female adolescents aged 12-17 years was conducted. Weight and height were meas...

DIET, NUTRITION AND THE PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES WHO Technical Report Series # 916. 1. Summary : WHO TRS 916 called for a shift in the conceptual framework placing emphasis on developing strategies for action, placing nutrition --- together with the other main risk factors for chronic disease, namely, physical activity tobacco use and alcoho...

Older persons are at risk of both poor nutrition and increased oxidative stress. Plasma ascorbate concentrations fall with increasing age, and concentrations of other antioxidants may also be reduced. The goal was to examine the association between antioxidants and mortality in older persons. We randomly selected persons aged 75-84 y from the lists...

The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between body composition and blood pressure (BP) in Bahraini adolescents. A sample of 504 Bahraini schoolchildren aged 12-17 years (249 boys and 255 girls) was selected using a multi-stage stratified sampling procedure. BP measurements were performed on the students. Anthropometric...

Childhood and adolescent obesity tends to extend into adulthood and predisposes the individual to some chronic diseases in later life. Body composition is a good indicator for assessing obesity and nutritional status of people. To determine the anthropometric and body composition characteristics of Bahraini adolescents and to compare these measurem...

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Bahraini adolescents using three different sets of criteria/standards. Cross-sectional prevalence study. Intermediate and secondary schools in Bahrain. The study included a population-representative sample of 506 Bahraini students (249 males and 257 females) betwee...

Fundamental changes in the world food economy pose new challenges for all participants in the food system, particularly in developing countries. This article focuses on the implications of these changes for international co-operation in food and agriculture. Concentrating especially on the FAO, it reviews the responses in monitoring, advocacy, reso...

Comparison of body fat percentage by D2O, BIA, antropometric and using established formula.

Economic development in developing societies characterized by industrialization, urbanization, and globalization has seen the emergence of an epidemic of diet- and life-style-related chronic degenerative diseases. A research project was initiated under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria under its Coordinated...

We studied cardiovascular risk factors in 149 rural, 142 slum dwellers, and 150 urban middle class Indian men (30 to 50 years, mean 40 years) in relation to their body fat. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.0, 22.3, and 24.3 kg/m2 and mean body fat percent (bioimpedance) was 20.4, 22.5, and 30.4, respectively. A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test sho...

The primary objective of this review is to examine the demographic and nutrition transition in India in relation to its contribution to the emerging epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases in this country. India, the country as a whole and its different states with a population exceeding 1 billion in 2001. The review examines demographic chan...

Nutrition is viewed traditionally as the specific dietary requirements of different age groups, without exploring diet in the context of a life-long contributory factor to well-being. Nutrition Through the Life Cycle summarises what is known about the relationship between diet and health at different points in the life cycle, and the nutritional re...

Using a national representative sample to identify groups within the UK male and female population over 65 years who report similar patterns of diet. National representative dietary survey, using 4-day weighed dietary records of men and women aged over 65 years old and living in private households in Great Britain in 1994-1995. Cluster analysis was...

PURPOSE: This study examined the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in school children from an urban area in Northwest Mexico and attempted to identify the risk factors that predispose children to infection in the community. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 1997/98 in the poorest socio-economic sectors of the...

To investigate the prevalence and nature of low energy reporting in a dietary survey of British adults over 65 years of age. Randomly selected cross sectional sample of 2060 British adults over 65 years. Four day weighed food diaries and questionnaires on health, lifestyle and socioeconomic characteristics. Great Britain. 539 women and 558 men over...

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition is a high quality, peer-reviewed journal that covers all aspects of human nutrition.

Total energy expenditure (TEE) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in the free-living state were measured in healthy south Indians, by the doubly labelled water (DLW) method. From these measurements, estimates of physical activity level (PAL) could be calculated. A total of 18 subjects were studied in 3 groups of 6 subjects each: Group I (urban controls...

The purpose of the present study was to estimate whole-body fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in weight-stable adults and to determine the likely effect on the doubly-labelled water (DLW) method for measuring energy expenditure. Synthesis was measured by 2H incorporation over 14 d in six adult males in approximate energy balance following noradr...

Reduction in energy intake below the acceptable level of requirement for an individual results in a series of physiological and behavioural responses, which are considered as an adaptation to the low energy intake. This ability of the human body to adapt to a lowering of the energy intake is without doubt beneficial to the survival of the individua...

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition is a high quality, peer-reviewed journal that covers all aspects of human nutrition.

The body composition of two groups of chronically energy deficient (CED) adults (body mass index, BMI < 17.0 kg/m2 and BMI 17.0-18.5 kg/m2), and their controls (BMI > 18.5 kg/m2), was investigated by a three compartment model, using measurements of total body water (TBW) by deuterium dilution, and of body density by hydrodensitometry. Values were o...

The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) has been shown to be important in the mediation of diet induced thermogenesis (DIT). Chronically energy deficient (CED) subjects have a high resting parasympathetic tone, which could lead to a greater than expected DIT. DIT was studied in chronically energy deficient adult men and healthy age-matched volunte...

A lower BMR of Indians, when compared with Westerners matched for age, sex and either surface area or body weight, has often been reported in the literature and has been interpreted to reflect an ethnic influence on BMR. To determine the contribution of body composition to these observed differences in BMR, we analysed the data on ninety-six Indian...

1. Differing patterns of protein metabolism are seen in wasting due to undernutrition and wasting due to chronic infection. 2. We investigated whole body energy and protein metabolism in nine subjects with pulmonary tuberculosis, six undernourished subjects (body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2) and seven control subjects from an Indian population. Fasting...

The physiological effects of three 30 min infusions of identical doses of norepinephrine (0.15 microgram/kg FFM/min) separated by 60 min intervals were assessed in well nourished (WN; n = 6) and chronically energy deficient (CED; n = 6) subjects. Each subject also underwent control, vehicle infusions with 0.9 per cent saline on a separate day. Oxyg...

The body composition of 99 men and 89 women from south India was estimated using hydrodensitometry, bioelectrical impedance and skinfold thickness. Comparisons of the hydrodensitometry (reference method) and skinfold methods showed that there were no significant differences between the methods, for estimates of fat free mass (FFM) and per cent fat....

The body composition of 10 adult Indian male and female subjects was investigated by a three compartment model, using measurements of Total Body Water (TBW) by deuterium dilution, and of body density by hydrodensitometry. The three compartment model yielded significantly different (P < 0.005) estimates of percent body fat of 15.9+/-3.8 and 19.7+/-4...

Total body water (TBW) obtained by deuterium dilution (TBWD) in 45 adult Indian males of low body mass index was compared with values obtained from bioelectrical impedance (TBWImp) and two anthropometry-based prediction equations. Bioelectrical impedance significantly underestimated TBW when compared with deuterium dilution, by 2.75 SD 2.86 kg. Com...

Doubly labelled (2H2(18)O) water was used to determine the daily total energy expenditure (TEE) in the free living state of 6 adult, healthy, weight stable, male volunteers over a period of 21 days. The body weights of the subjects ranged from 42.3-70.4 kg. Isotope pool sizes and elimination rates were calculated from 18O and 2H enrichments in basa...

Thirteen young, male adults were investigated for thermal, cardiovascular and metabolic responses to truncal cooling for 40 min. The subjects were divided into two groups [well nourished controls (WN) and chronically energy deficient (CED)] on the basis of anthropometry and socio-economic status. The CED group had significantly greater reductions i...

Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) using a handgrip dynamometer was assessed in seventy-two young adult males. The subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of a BMI of 18.5 kg/m2. The subjects with a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (n 38) were further divided into an underweight (UW; n 20) group and a chronically energy-deficient (CED; n 18) group. The...

The effects of physical activity during pregnancy and lactation on the fetal outcome and the growth of pups was studied in Wistar rats (n 144). Rats were trained to swim for 2 h every day, 6 d/week through pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation. Maternal exercise during pregnancy, despite the dams having ad lib. access to food, resulted in low-birt...

Basal metabolic rate (BMR), thermic effect of a meal (TEM), anthropometry, and dietary intakes were measured in 18 control subjects; 18 pregnant women at 12, 24, and 34 wk gestation; and in 17 of these women at 12 and 24 wk postpartum, to uncover any metabolic economy associated with either pregnancy or lactation. Results indicated that the BMR and...

Changes in body weight and energy expenditure following exercise training was assessed in female Wistar rats. Rats were trained to swim in a tank filled with water for 2 hr everyday, 6 days a week. Changes in energy intake and body weight were recorded. The resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured by indirect calorimetry and the capacity for non s...

Basal metabolic rate (BMR), thermic effect of a meal (TEM), anthropometry, and dietary intakes were measured in 18 control subjects; 18 pregnant women at 12, 24, and 34 wk gestation; and in 17 of these women at 12 and 24 wk postpartum, to uncover any metabolic economy associated with either pregnancy or lactation. Results indicated that the BMR and...

The resting metabolic rate (RMR) and thermic effect of a standard test meal (TEM) were measured twice each during the follicular and luteal phases (confirmed by plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol) of a single menstrual cycle, and once during the follicular phase of the following menstrual cycle, by using indirect calorimetry, in 13...

To assess the usefulness of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a substitute for body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) or an additional measure of adult nutritional state. Variously sampled adults aged 18-60 years from selected regions of five African countries, India, China and Papua New Guinea were measured. 2421 men and 3248 women were measured for the...

This study investigated the relative importance of alterations in carbohydrate intake or oxidation as mechanisms for rectifying extreme perturbations of glycogen stores. Six lean men were studied on three occasions in which a stabilization period (days 1 and 2) was immediately followed by whole-body indirect calorimetry (days 3-5). Glycogen stores...

Anthropometric indicators have long been used to define the nutritional status of children although anthropometric studies of adult nutritional status have been accorded low priority. As a result, the nutritional status of a community is largely based on estimates of childhood undernutrition alone. The prevalence of adult undernutrition is also var...

Wistar rat pups raised in large litters (LL) and small litters (SL) prior to weaning had access to ad libitum dietary intakes up to the age of 90 days. At 90 and again at 180 days they were partially diet restricted for a period of 15 days. Body weights, resting metabolic rates (RMR) and capacity for nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) was evaluated p...

1. Two groups of adult men were studied in Bangalore, India, under identical conditions: the ‘normal weight’ subjects (mean body mass index 20.8 kg/m2) were medical students of the institute with access to habitual energy and protein intakes ad libitum. The other group, designated ‘undernourished’, were labourers on daily wages (mean body mass inde...

Twelve healthy adults divided into a well-nourished (WN; n = 6) and a chronically energy deficient (CED; n = 6) groups underwent a single 30 min infusion of norepinephrine (NE) administered at the rate of 0.15 micrograms/kg fat-free mass/min. Measured parameters in the basal state and during the infusion included heart rate (by electrocardiograph),...

We have tried to provide a brief guide to the range of techniques available for assessing energy expenditure in a variety of different settings. It is hoped that this will enable potential users to select an appropriate method for the problem in hand and to be able to trace more detailed reference material, advice or collaboration. The Appendix pro...

Eight healthy adult males underwent three 70* head-up tilts within a nine day period. Immediate heart rate responses were monitored for 30 beats following completion of change to upright posture. The pooled data demonstrates a clearly demarcated bimodal heart rate response with a rise in heart rate by the 20th beat and a subsequent fall by the 30th...

Anthropometric indices are known to be good indicators of nutritional status in the long term. However, there are conflicting reports about their effectiveness in short term assessments. In 45 patients undergoing elective operations, the mid-arm circumference, biceps and triceps skin fold thickness and arm muscle area were measured. These were comp...

Forearm and fingertip temperature gradients were related to simultaneously measured forearm blood flow in eleven adult subjects at rest and during a mild cold stimulus. The change in temperature gradients were converted into a percentage change of the potential capacity for heat exchange and this was found to correlate well (r = 0.73: P < 0.001) wi...