title: Children consuming cassava as a staple food are at risk for inadequate zinc, iron, and vitamin A intake.
abstract: Cassava contains little zinc, iron, and beta-carotene, yet it is the primary staple crop of over 250 million Africans. This study used a 24-hour dietary recall to test the hypothesis that among healthy children aged 2-5 years in Nigeria and Kenya, cassava's contribution to the childrens' daily diets is inversely related to intakes of zinc, iron, and vitamin A. Dietary and demographic data and anthropometric measurements were collected from 449 Kenyan and 793 Nigerian children. Among Kenyan children 89% derived at least 25% of their dietary energy from cassava, while among the Nigerian children 31% derived at least 25% of energy from cassava. Spearman's correlation coefficient between the fraction of dietary energy obtained from cassava and vitamin A intake was r = -0.15, P < 0.0001, zinc intake was r = -0.11, P < 0.0001 and iron intake was r = -0.36, P < 0.0001. In Kenya, 59% of children consumed adequate vitamin A, 22% iron, and 31% zinc. In Nigeria, 17% of children had adequate intake of vitamin A, 57% iron, and 41% zinc. Consumption of cassava is a risk factor for inadequate vitamin A, zinc and/or iron intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gegios
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amthor
authors.forename: Busie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maziya-Dixon
authors.forename: Chedozie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egesi
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallowa
authors.forename: Rhoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nungo
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gichuki
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mbanaso
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Manary
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D002365:Manihot; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000172:deficiency*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012016:Reference Values; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D018977:Micronutrients; D015032:Zinc