title: Effect of different maize meal diets on growth and vitamin A: case-study on chickens.
abstract: South Africa embarked on mandatory vitamin and mineral fortification of wheat flour and maize meal in 2003 as part of a multi-faceted approach to alleviate malnutrition. However, it was reported, in 2008, that vitamin A deficiency increased despite the mandatory fortification programme. This motivates an investigation into the absorption of vitamin A as fortificant in the maize meal. Relative absorption, in chickens as the biological model, was determined by evaluating growth and vitamin A status. The weight, cumulative feed intake and liver retinol stores of chickens on different diets were measured over a 6week period. The fortified white maize meal diet was able to maintain the vitamin A status of the chickens. Poor absorption of the fortificant vitamin A is therefore not a constraint in combating vitamin A deficiency. It is in therefore also important to focus on the level of fortification delivered when consumed as a traditional prepared dish. In the traditional diet, maize porridge is often consumed with only a relish. The total fat content of the traditional meal is very low, lacking absorption enhancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Wildlife Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa. beulah.pretorius@gmail.com
authors.forename: Beulah
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.forename: Hettie C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schönfeldt
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D013019:South Africa; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A