Cassava intake and vitamin A status among women and preschool children in Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria

Abstract

Background
As part of the HarvestPlus provitamin A-biofortified cassava program in Nigeria we con-
ducted a survey to determine the cassava intake and prevalence of vitamin A deficiency
among children 6-59 months and women of childbearing age in the state of Akwa Ibom.
Methods
A cluster-randomized cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2011 in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
The usual food and nutrient intakes were estimated using a multi-pass 24-hour recall with
repeated recall on a subsample. Blood samples of children and women were collected to
analyze for serum retinol, serum ferritin, and acute phase proteins as indicators of infection.
Vitamin A deficiency was defined as serum retinol
<
0.70
?
mol/L adjusted for infection.
Results
A total of 587 households of a mother-child dyad participated in the dietary intake assess-
ment. Cassava was very widely consumed in Akwa Ibom, mainly as
gari
or
foofoo
. Daily
cassava consumption frequency was 92% and 95% among children and women, respec-
tively. Mean (
±
SD) cassava intake (expressed as raw fresh weight) was 348
±
317 grams/
day among children and 940
±
777 grams/day among women. Intakes of most micronutri-
ents appeared to be adequate with the exception of calcium. Median vitamin A intake was
very high both for children (1038
?
g RAE/day) and women (2441
?
g RAE/day). Red palm oil
and dark green leafy vegetables were the main sources of vitamin A in the diet, with red
palm oil alone contributing almost 60% of vitamin A intake in women and children. Preva-
lence of vitamin A deficiency ranged from moderate (16.9 %) among children to virtually
non-existent (3.4 %) among womenConclusion
Consumption of cassava and vitamin A intake was high among women and children in
Akwa Ibom with a prevalence of vitamin A deficiency ranging from moderate in children to
non-existent among women. The provitamin A biofortified cassava and other vitamin A inter-
ventions should focus dissemination in states where red palm oil is not widely consumed.Background
As part of the HarvestPlus provitamin A-biofortified cassava program in Nigeria we con-
ducted a survey to determine the cassava intake and prevalence of vitamin A deficiency
among children 6-59 months and women of childbearing age in the state of Akwa Ibom.
Methods
A cluster-randomized cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2011 in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
The usual food and nutrient intakes were estimated using a multi-pass 24-hour recall with
repeated recall on a subsample. Blood samples of children and women were collected to
analyze for serum retinol, serum ferritin, and acute phase proteins as indicators of infection.
Vitamin A deficiency was defined as serum retinol
<
0.70
?
mol/L adjusted for infection.
Results
A total of 587 households of a mother-child dyad participated in the dietary intake assess-
ment. Cassava was very widely consumed in Akwa Ibom, mainly as
gari
or
foofoo
. Daily
cassava consumption frequency was 92% and 95% among children and women, respec-
tively. Mean (
±
SD) cassava intake (expressed as raw fresh weight) was 348
±
317 grams/
day among children and 940
±
777 grams/day among women. Intakes of most micronutri-
ents appeared to be adequate with the exception of calcium. Median vitamin A intake was
very high both for children (1038
?
g RAE/day) and women (2441
?
g RAE/day). Red palm oil
and dark green leafy vegetables were the main sources of vitamin A in the diet, with red
palm oil alone contributing almost 60% of vitamin A intake in women and children. Preva-
lence of vitamin A deficiency ranged from moderate (16.9 %) among children to virtually
non-existent (3.4 %) among womenConclusion
Consumption of cassava and vitamin A intake was high among women and children in
Akwa Ibom with a prevalence of vitamin A deficiency ranging from moderate in children to
non-existent among women. The provitamin A biofortified cassava and other vitamin A inter-
ventions should focus dissemination in states where red palm oil is not widely consumed.