Scientific research topic

English summary: Iodine deficiency is the main cause of preventable mental retardation in childhood. WHO recommended iodized salt utilization as a safe and effective approach to control iodine deficiency disorders. In Vietnam, National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program was established from 1995-2005. Since 2005, this National program was changed to routine activities and the coverage of household iodized salt and median urinary iodine concentration have declined significantly. Viet Nam is now in a situation similar to that at the start of the program in 1995. Vietnamese people currently use a lot of salt condiments other than salt to cook foods such as fish sauce, seasoning granules which were not iodized. This may be one of the reasons for iodine deficiency of Vietnamese people. The study was successful in creating a formula and process approach to fortify iodine to the seasoning granules. This new approach might contribute to improve the status of iodine deficiency in the community.

English summary: The clinical trial was conducted in adults, who are overweight/obese. It is evident that the weight reducing  milk is safe, convenient  and has no side effects. After 6 weeks of trial, the product had the efficacy of reducing weight, which is 5.9% of average  body weight (3.9kg). Most of the subjects had the reduction of 3.5kg. The subjects had remarkable improvement of anthropometric in­dicators (waist length reduced by 5cm, hip length reduced  by 2cm, body fat reduced by 2%), and blood indexes (blood lipid reduced by lmmol/l; LDL-cholesterol reduced by 1.2mmol/l on average)

English summary: The study aimed to assess the situation of stunting and micro-nutrient deficiencies among children under 2 in Northern Mountain and Central Highland. Disease-control study design was applied on 600 children under with disease group (stunted children) and controlled group (non stunted children) in 4 disadvantaged provinces (Lao Cai and Lai Chau in the Northern Mountain; Gia Lai and Kon Tum of Central Highland). All children fewer than 2 in selected sites were screened by measuring weight and height to to be assigned in 2 study groups. Results showed that the rate of under 2 stunting was very high (41.3%), of which boys had 3% higher rate than girls (p<0.05). The rate increased steadily by age group, from 22% in 0-5 months old group to 62% in 18-23 months old group (p<0.01). The underweight rate of children under 2 was 24.8%, of which boys’ rate was significantly higher than girls’ (29.1% vs. 19.9%, p<0.01). It increased gradually from 15% in 0-5 months old to 32% in 18-23 months old. Anemia prevalence in children under 2 was very high as 58.6% and it reduced gradually by age, i.e. highest among children 0-5 months (75%) and lowest among children 18-23 months (41.6%), p<0.01. Iron deficiency anemia was 33.9%, of which boys had a higher rate than girls (33.9% vs. 26.6%), total iron depletion rate was 36.6% (boys had almost 2 times higher than girls, 44.8% vs. 27.8%) with p<0.01. Zinc deficiency was 49.5% but there was no difference among child groups and sex, children 6-11 months old had the highest Zinc deficiency rate (52.9%).  Conclusion: stunting, anemia, zinc deficiency are public health concerns of children under 2 in study areas.

English summary: Invesment in nutrition is investment in capacity building to achieve a strong human resource both in term of health and mind, thus it is the investment for development. Food based dietary guidelines is an important tool of nutrition education to effectively implement national nutrition policies and strategies in a certain period. The 10 food based dietary guidelines of the period 2006 – 2010 were approved by the Ministry of Health in 17th January 2007. This is an important educational tool for nutrition in this period in order to improve proper nutrition knowledge and practice of the population, contributing to the achievement of the goals set by NNS 2001 – 2010. These include guidelines on proper nutrition practices and lifestyles based on the modern scientific evidences, actual situation and dietary traditions of Vietnamese people. The 10 recommendations of this period should be widely promulgated, guided and delivered to the community so that the population will have a better knowledge in nutrition and will apply it in daily life, thus the nutrition and health status of the whole population will be improved.

English summary: The study aimed to assess stunting status and related factors in children under 5 through a cross sectional survey in Son Hoa commune in 2015. A total of 260 children from 0 to 60 months were measured weight and height and their mothers were interviewed on child feeding practices. Results showed that underweight, stunting and wasting rate was 20%, 32.3% and 9.6%, respectively.  Malnutrition was highest among 36-48 months old group. There was association between stunting and such factors as infant low birth weight, late initiation of breastfeeding, no exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months, weaning food initiation before 6 months, maternal factors (nutritional status and age).

English summary: The study was conducted  in 246 pregnant ethnic anemic women aiming to identify anemia preva­lence in pregnant ethnic women living in Dak lak and related factors to anemia in those women. Method: cross-sectional, descriptive analysis. Results: Ate of anemia in pregnant ethnic women in Dak Lak is 50.1%. The risk of anemia increases with the duration of pregnancy, i.e. 62% women in their 3rd trimester were anemic. Only 44.3% pregnant women had iron supplementation, of which 46.4% bought themselves. Among those who did not have iron suppkmentation, 85.2% stated that they would buy iron supplementation if it is available. Related factors to anemia are: Number of pregnancy: having over 4 pregnancies  increases the risk of anemia by 3.13 times. Not having iron supplementation increases the risk of anemia by 6.85 times. Effects of nutritional anemia: Anemic pregnant women have 2.25 times higher the risk of mis­-carriage and 2.61 times higher the risk of premature delivery.

English summary: The study was an unmasked and randomized trial with a total of 204 just-married and non-pregnant women in Cam Khe district, Phu Tho province in order to evaluate the results of intervention to nutritional and anemia status of children 24 weeks of age. Intervention: Subjects were divided into 2 groups, the intervention group was received local food supplement rich in iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and folate 5 days a week from before conception until birth and the control group wasn’t. Results: In the group of CED women at baseline, food supplementation had positive effect on the means of WAZ and HAZ of children 24 weeks of age. This effect didn’t happen with the group of women with normal BMI. Effectiveness of intervention on the means of infant weight, length and the prevalence of infant stunting and wasting had not been seen. Underweight prevalence of infants in the control group tended to be 3.4 times higher compared with infants in the intervention group (OR, 95% CI: 3.443, 0.376-31.548). The intervention has markedly improved anemia status of children 24 weeks of age, whose mother was initially CED. In the group of CED women at baseline, children in the control group had a 5.4 times higher risk of anemia than children the intervention group (OR, 95% CI): 1.9, 0.9 to 4.1).

English summary: Aims: To identify the hypertension status and its nutritional associated factors in adults in two coastal communes of Nghe An province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1170 adults aged 40-69 years in Nghi Thinh and Nghi Thai communes, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province. General information, blood pressure, anthropometry, salt intake behavior, and semi-quantitative food consumption frequency data were collected. The hypertensive prevalence was adjusted for age-sex structure of population. Multilogistic regression analysis was applied to test several models for the association of hypertension to socio–economic conditions, body mass index and waist circumference, high salt intake behavior, and frequency of food consumption. Results: The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence (95%CI) of hypertension status was 46.3 (42.6-50.0), 11.3 (9.12-14.0), 18.1 (15.1-21.5), 7.97 (6.11-10.3), 16.3 % (13.7-19.3), respectively, in normal, hight-normal, grade 1 hypertension, grade 2 hypertension, and previous diagnosed with current use of antihypertensive drugs. There were still 61.5% of hypertensive subjects without knowing the condition. The independent associated factors of hypertension were age, sex, obese status, vegetable and fruit intake/day (<5 units/day), high salt intake behavior, alcohol consumption (> 1 time/week), previously diagnosed dyslipidemia and family members with hypertension.Conclusions: The study indicates the high hypertension prevalence in the coastal communes. The most important associated factors for hypertension should be given a great attention in controlling hypertension in the population.

English summary: Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the effect of a daily ready-to-use-supplement foods (RUSF) fortified with 21 micronutrients providing 225 kcal (Hebi-Mam) on hemoglobin status of pregnant women in 10 communes, An Lao district, Hai Phong city. Subjects and methods: A group of 398 pregnant women with gestational ages of 6 to 16 wk were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial, in which study women in 3 groups received at least 20 wk of either iron (58 mg) and folic acid (400 µg) supplementation or multiple micronutrient supplementation including 30 mg iron and 400 µg folic acid or Hebi-Mam including 30 mg iron and 400 µg folic acid. Hemoglobin was measured at baseline (6-16 gestational weeks) and at near term (36 gestational weeks) by cyanmethemoglobin method. Results: The three interventions were equally effective in increasing hemoglobin concentrations, with a mean increase of 3.3 g/l in iron/folate group, 2.7g/l in multiple micronutrient supplementation group and 3.1 g/L in food supplement group (p<0.01). The prevalence of anemia was 26.1%, 24.8% and 24.5%, respectively. Factors found to be important predictors of hemoglobin improvement were baseline hemoglobin (p<0,001), gestational age at baseline (p<0.001), and ferritin < 15 mcg/l (p<0.01). Conclusion and recommendation: The RUSF Hebi-Mam was as effective as the multiple micronutrient tablet and iron/folate tablet in maintaining hemoglobin status during pregnancy. Therefore, this locally produced RUSF Hebi-Mam could become a promising strategy to be included into maternal intervention programs in Vietnam, to contribute to the optimal nutrient intake and to improve nutritional status of women during the critical period of pregnancy.

English summary: The study was conducted in 108 men aged 40-59 years old. The subjects were divided into 2 groups, each group with 54 men (1 intervention and 1 control). Intervention group was administered with vitamin-fortified fish oil capsules with the dosage of 2gr/day. After 4 months, changes of the lipid concentration in blood of those subjects were as follows: Total chol­esterol reduced from 6.22 ± 0.86 mmol/l to 5.74 ± 1.03 mmol/l; Triglyceride reduced  from 3.03 ± 1.84 mmol/l to 2.28  ±1.29 mmol/l; HDL-C  increased from 1.47 ± 0.36 mmol/l to 1.68 ± 0.45 mmol/l; LDL-C reduced from 3.42 ± 0.94 mmol/l to.73±0.89 mmol/l (p<0.05). The rate of effective intervention for cholesterol reduction is 36.3%, for triglyceride is 28.4% and for LDL-C is 33.3% and for HDL-C is 59.1%.

English summary: This study was done to develop the process of producing "shellfish minced on cucumber" which is preferable by the consumers, ensures food safety and achieves high economic value. Research investigated the effects of cucumber blanching; the proportion of ingredients including shellfish, pork and abalone mushroom; the proportion of polyphosphates additive, as well as the proportion of mixture of shellfish, pork, abalone mushroom and cucumber on quality of the product. The research results demonstrated that: With CaCl2 concentration of 1% and blanching duration in 30 seconds, the cucumber kept a good structure, nice color and taste. The optimal proportion between shellfish: pork: abalone mushroom was 46: 45: 9. When the proportion of polyphosphate was 0.3%, product had a high humidity and good toughness. Rolling the mixture of shellfish, pork, abalone mushroom on cucumber with the proportion 1:1 would give the best organoleptic properties.

English summary: About 2500 years ago, Hypocrates considered food as medicine and vice verse. In Vietnam Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Tue Tinh and other leading experts in nutrition, biology, agriculture, medicine, food culture, and dietetics have also confirmed the importance of greens in daily meals of the Vietnamese population. The common saying such as “A meal without vegetables is like disease without medicine” or “If you are hungry, eat vegetables; If you are sick, take medicine”…has emphasized the significance of functional foods, including vegetables and fruit in daily meals and life of Vietnamese populations since the foundation of the nation. Since the early 1970s, there have been a number of scientists from Japan, China and Vietnam, particularly the Vietnam National Institute of Nutrition and Prof. Tu Giay, being the pioneers in evaluating Vietnamese function al foods, in term of their biological values, health protection and prevention of chronic diseases and cancers. There have been several definitions of functional foods but the most correct one is Functional foods are those not only provide more or less common nutrients but also contain special biological substances, influencing regulating and metabolic functions, thus increasing human resistance and immune capacity, preventing chronic diseases and cancers, ensuring sustainable good health and well being in the lifecycle.

English summary: The study aimed to determine malnutrition rate among Khmer children and some related factors. Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional study with 188 children and their mothers/caregivers. Data on weight and height of children and knowledge of caregivers were collected. Results: Malnutrition rate was 34.6% by weight for age score (WAZ), 40.4% by height for age score (HAZ) and 17.0% by weight for height score (WHZ). Caregiver's education level less than primary school and family income were factors that increase the risk of malnutrition in children. The caregivers have access to mass media and proper knowledge regarding breast feeding practice (early initiation of breast feeding within 1 hour after birth; Colostrums feeding, breast milk as the first food) were factors contributing to reduce the risk of malnutrition.

English summary: The 2006 Dietary Guidelines for the Netherlands are  gradually receiving priority by policy-makers and the food industry. Physical exercise and healthy dietary habits for the prevention of overweight are increasingly implemented at schools, workplaces etc. The  evidence-based dietary recommendations are stimulating food industry to further improve the composition of their product portfolio. Better fats, less salt, less added sugar, more dietary fiber rare the current goals. To make the healthy choice the easy one, logo’s have been introduced to flag up products that meet specific criteria. Salt reduction and n-3 fatty acids receive special attention. Current intake of sodium chloride is around 10 grams per day in the Dutch population. Sodium is linked to hypertension, but may also increase the risk of osteoporosis, gallstones and cataract. In its policy document, the Ministry of Health aims to reach the recommended intake of 6 grams per day by 2011. The Federation of Dutch Food Companies has taken up this challenge and the primary responsible producers (bread, meat, dairy and snack industry) are motivated to gradually lower the processing of salt. Next to saturated and trans fat reduction,the  increase intake of n-3 fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acids from fish are another important target. The current average intake among the Dutch  population of one meal of fish every two weeks should be increased to twice fish each week, of which  once fatty fish. The health benefits are related to cardiovascular disease, especially sudden cardiac death. Some major ongoing trials, however, should confirm these benefits. Numerous other preventive effects, e.g. on neurodegeneratii.’e and gastro-intestinal health are suggested, however, hard evidence is lacking. Fish is the preferred food, but  alternatives (n-3 rich bread, eggs, margarine, juice) have  been introduced on the  market.

English summary: Aims: To assess the nutritional status of patients during the acute exacebation ofchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: A cross-sectional study wasconducted at the National Lung Hospital on142 patients, using the convenient sampling, collecting anthropometric and biochemical data, and assessing the nutritional status using BMI and the subjective global assessment tool (SGA). Results: The prevalence of patients with chronic energy deficiency was 37.3%. The prevalence of patients at risk of malnutrition according to SGA was 86.6%, of which severe malnutrition (SGA-C) accounted for 11.2%. The prevalence of patients with serum albumin concentration below 35 g/L in the SGA-C group was 43.8%, significantly higher than the SGA-B group: 18.7% and the SGA-A group: 5.2 % (p = 0.015). The prevalence of patients with serum protein levels below 60 g/L was 7.0%. Conclusion: Patients with acute exacerbation of COPD are at high risk of malnutrition, necessaryto assess malnutrition and undertake early nutritional intervention to prevent malnutrition and improve treatment outcomes. References 1. Adeloye D, Chua S, Lee C, et al. Global and regional estimates of COPD prevalence: Systematic review and meta–analysis. J Glob Health. 2015;5(2), 020415. 2. Nguyễn Thanh Hà, Phạm Thị Mai Ngọc, và Chu Hải Đăng. Tình hình dinh dưỡng của người bệnh mắc bệnh phổi tắc nghẽn mạn tính tại bệnh viện Phổi Trung ương năm 2021. Tạp chí nghiên cứu Y học. 2021;145(9):62–68. 3. Đỗ Nam Khánh, Phạm Thị Mai Ngọc, và Chu Hải Đăng. Tình hình dinh dưỡng của người bệnh mắc bệnh phổi tắc nghẽn mạn tính tại bệnh viện Phổi Trung ương năm 2021. Tạp chí Y học Việt Nam. 2021;508(1):55–58. 4. Lê Thị Diễm Tuyết. Đánh giá tình trạng dinh dưỡng của bệnh nhân mắc bệnh phổi tắc nghẽn mạn tính tại bệnh viện Bạch Mai năm 2014. Tạp chí dinh dưỡng và thực phẩm. 2016;12(3):52–57. 5. Fink J da S, Mello PD de, và Mello ED de. Subjective global assessment of nutritional status – A systematic review of the literature. Clinical Nutrition. 2015;34(5):785–792. 6. Nguyễn Thị Thùy Linh. Thực trạng dinh dưỡng của người bệnh phổi tắc nghẽn mạn tính đang điều trị tại bệnh viện Phổi Thái Bình năm 2017. Khoa học điều dưỡng. 2020;3:27–33. 7. Hogan D, Lan LTT, Diep DTN et al. Nutritional status of Vietnamese outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Human Nutrition Diet. 2017;30(1):83–89. 8. Gupta B, Kant S, và Mishra R. Subjective global assessment of nutritional status of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients on admission. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010;14(4):500–505.

English summary: After the Renovation, Vietnam’s economy has been developing rapidly. As the results, Vietnamese people’s diets have also been improved. To assess the change on Hanoi outskirt citizens’ diets, a study “Household dietary changes after 6 years (1999 - 2005) in 6 communes of Dong anh district, Hanoi” was conducted  in May and June, 2005 and compared with data in 1999. 96 households were randomly selected from 6 communes. Food intake was surveyed by weighing households’ food consumed in 24 hours in 3 consecutive days. The results showed that after 6 years the amount of rice intake decreased by 85 gr, animal food intake increased such as meat by 15 times, egg/milk by 3 folders, oil 2 folders, fruit and sugar 20 folders. Fish/aquatic product consumption was nearly unchanged and vegetable decreased. Proportion of energy from protein, lipid and glucid is more balance after 6 years,  protein energy provided 14% and lipid 24%.

English summary: Background: Currently, street food is urgent issue and get people interested. At Binh Duong province, street food management was difficult and not evaluate the effectiveness in each area. Objectives: To determine the proportion of street food attained the food safety and the proportion of street food sellers on right knowledge and practices in food safety. To identify the relationship between the sanitary conditions of food safety with knowledge and practices of street food sellers. Methods: The descriptive cross – sectional study was performed on 360 street food were selected by syntematic random method. We used the question to interviewed directly food handler’s practices. We used chi-squared test to measure the relationshipin variables. Results: Most of street food sellers interested in knowledge about health care (75.8%), less concerned knowledge of kitchen hygiene (10.8%) and knowledge about food poisoning (25.8%). The proportion of right knowledges of food safety is low (6.1%). The street food attainted the specific conditions of food safety of kitchen hygiene is high (upon 77%). However, attainted all conditions of food safety of sellers was good practice for no smoking, do not spit in processing of region, no jewelry, no paint nails, health care, training knowledge of food safety (upon 60%), however not wearing fully work-wear (9,7%). There was association between right in food safety and right practices in food safety [PR = 9.4; KTC95% (5.1 – 17.3), p < 0.001]. There was association between right knowledge in food safety and all conditions of food safety [PR = 1,7; KTC95% (1.2 – 2.3), p < 0.015]. Conclusion: Advanced knowledge of kitchen hygiene and knowledge about food poisoning. To propagandize wear uniform, mask, hat of food processing. The management agencies need to strengthen inspectation of safety food of the street food.

English summary: Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology carried out investigation on pesticide residue in green vegetables at two cities and two towns in 4 provinces of Tay Nguyen. The results showed that: Green vegetables with pesticide residue have the average rate of 61.20%, the rate of samples having pesticide residue with excess of the allowable criterion was 6.8%. Pesticide residue of organic chloride with the lowest concentration was 0.011 ppb/kg. That of organic phosphorus with the lowest concentration was 0.128 ppb/kg. Pesticide residue of organic chloride with the highest concentration was 65.210 ppb/kg, of organic phosphorus with the highest concentration was 754.663 ppb/kg, which was 15.1 times higher than the allowable criterion. Green vegetables in those areas were not safe for community health.

English summary: Nutrition knowledge plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to describe nutrition knowledge and some related factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted on 440 outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Dong Anh general hospital, Hanoi - using pre-designed questionnaire interview method. Results: The rate of patients having good knowledge on nutrition was 47%. This proportion was higher in married people than people with other marital status (51.7% versus 27.4%). The rate of patients who had received nutrition communication had the rate of good knowledge of 52.5% compared to 32.8% of those who had not. Conclusion: Nutrition knowledge of the study subjects was quite limited, there was a relationship between nutritional knowledge and marital status, comorbidities, and access to nutrition communication.

English summary: A cross-sectional study in 11 sub-districts of Thanh Hoa city was conducted during 2006-2007 with 240 ready-to-eat food samples, 30 cooking utensil samples, 40 cooker hand samples, and 310 KAP interviews to food vendors. Results revealed that the contamination rate of street foods and cooking utensils was upto 57.74%. This exceeded the limits defined for foods and cooking utensils by the Ministry of Health, e.g. 76.7% in fermented ham, 51.7% in meat and its products, 43.3% in fish and aquatic products, 60% in cold cuts, 66.7% in fresh vegetables, and 56.7% in noodles. Micro-biology contamination in hands of cookers was 62.5% and in cooking utensils was 63.3%. There is a close association between knowledge on food safety of street food vendors and micro-biology contamination of foods. This study has proposed 3 intervention groups to improve the quality of food safety management.

English summary: The main objective is to determine the prevalence of diabetes and related factors in Danang. The research is a comparative cross-sectional study of 2100 subjects in the age groups from 20 to 64 years old. The sample was selected systematically by probability proportional to size method. The diabetes prevalence in 20-64 year-old group in Danang was 7.38%. The rate of glucose tolerance disorder was 14.9% and the rate of fasting glucose tolerance disorder was 3.67%. Diabetes prevalence was increasing by age. The rate in 20-29, 30-39 and 40-49 year-old groups was 2%, 0.8% and 6.9%, respectively. In older age-groups the proportion increate dramatically, the prevalence in 50-59 year-old group was 10.5% and the 60-64 was 15.2%. There was no difference between the prevalence of diabetes in men and in women. The study found the association between diabetes and family history of diabetes (3 times higher), history of gestational diabetes mellitus (2.5 times higher), hypertension (2.7 times higher), and obesity (2.4 times higher). The knowledge about diabetes mellitus of Danang people was not adequate, especially in new diabetes patients.

English summary: The rate of lifestyle related chronic diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardio-vascular diseases is on the rise in Vietnam. Many studies over the world as well in Vietnam have shown that obesity (identified by BMI) is a risk factor. Besides, increased body and subcutaneous fat (mainly abdominal fat) is considered one among causes of insulin resistance–a causal factor of chronic diseases. Compared to European people with the same BMI, Asian people often have higher proportion of body fat. However, until now, there has been no panoramic picture on anthropometric characteristics of Vietnamese people with those chronic diseases, particularly diabetes type 2 and metabolic syndrome. This literature review aims to draw this picture from international and domestic publications since the 1990s. Average BMI of patients with diabetes type 2 and metabolic syndrome is normal, similar to that of non-obese people. However, they have a higher proportion of body fat and WHR compared to normal people. It is recommended that with Vietnamese programs to control non-communicable chronic diseases, 3 indicators that should be paid attention are proportion of body fat, waist length, and WHR so that proper recommendation and approach will be made.

English summary: Metabolic syndrome (MS), also known as the insulin resistant syndrome, consists of a cluster of metabolic disorders that were strongly associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Unbalanced diet (more fat, less healthy food), sedentary lifestyle which becomes more popular in developing country including Vietnam were risk factor for the syndrome. Healthcare-related staff, who provide healthcare to patients were well-trained in medical field and may had better knowledge on either general diseases or this syndrome than general population. However, information about the syndrome in this population in Ho Chi Minh City, a biggest city of Vietnam is unknown. We sought to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its related factors in healthcare-related individuals in Ho Chi Minh City. Five hundreds and four individuals [(125 men, age: 38 ± 10 y) and (379 women, age: 39 ± 10 y) were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. The demographic, social characteristics and habits were collected using structured questionnaire. Anthropometric, clinical parameters were measured. Fasting blood sample was collected for measurement of plasma concentration and lipid profile. The MS was defined using either international diabetes foundation (IDF) 2005 criteria which is presence of central obesity plus presences of two or more of the rest four components i.e., hyper triglyceride, low HDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure and, elevated fasting blood glucose or ATP III (for determine the prevalence only), which is presence of three or more in the five components above. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows 11.5. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant. Using IDF criteria, the prevalence of MS is 22% and this prevalence is 13%, based on ATP III criteria. Women had significantly higher proportion of MS than men. No relationship between MS and locality. The prevalence of MS significantly increased with menopause status. However, after adjustment for age, this relationship is no longer existed. No relationship between MS and educational level, work type was observed. Compare to individuals without MS, individuals with MS have significantly higher in BMI, total body fat, skin-fold thickness, hip circumference and total cholesterol concentration. After adjustment for age, sex, general linear model reveals that MS individuals have similar BMI but more total body fat, skin-fold thickness, hip circumference and total cholesterol concentration. Binary logistic regression analyses, show that ageing and sex are associated factors for the prevalence of MS and that total body fat, hip circumference and total cholesterol concentration were determinants for the prevalence of MS independently with age, sex and BMI. In conclusion, the first study of MS in healthcare related staff shows that the prevalence is 22%, indicating an increasing trend of this syndrome in Vietnamese population. Our findings also indicate that ageing, gender (female), total body fat, hip circumference and total cholesterol concentration are associated determinants for the increased prevalence of MS. Because of the negative effects of MS on both human health and society, it suggests that the healthcare staff should pay attention on their own health and that a national regular screening and prevention program need to be established.

English summary: Aims: To describe actual food intake of women aged 40-65 years with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2 in Hanoi, 2016. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on women aged 40-65 years with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2 in Hanoi, 2016. Results: The average age was approximately 52 years old with BMI= 25.6±3.8 kg/m2. The dietary energy level of the study subjects was 1628 (1589,2; 1705,5) kcal /person/day. The relative proportions of energy-producing subtances as Protein:Lipid:Glucid were 14.6: 27.5: 57.9, respectively. 100% of participants had an unsatisfactory ratio of dietary Glucid, Canxi, Vitamin A. Conclusion: The dietary energy level of the study subjects was lower than that of the national survey in 2010 and 2018. The dietary energy structure was quite balanced, as Protein: Lipid: Glucid ratios. The average dietary lipids of study subjects was higher than recommendation. All study subjects did not reach the recommended levels of energy, Glucid, Calcium, and Vitamin A in the dietary intake. In the coming time, it is necessary to promote health education and communication about a balanced diet of vitamins and minerals among women aged 40-65 years.