Liver intake in 24-59-month-old children from an impoverished South African community provides enough vitamin A to meet requirements.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the contribution of liver to the vitamin A intake of 24-59-month-old children from an impoverished South African community where liver is frequently consumed and vitamin A deficiency previously shown to be absent.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Northern Cape Province, South Africa.


METHODS
Children aged 24-59 months (n 150). Vitamin A intake from liver was assessed using a single 24 h recall and a quantified liver frequency questionnaire. In addition, information on vitamin A intake via the national fortification programme was obtained from the 24 h recall and information on vitamin A supplementation from the Road-to-Health Chart. Height, weight and socio-economic data were also collected.


RESULTS
Stunting, underweight and wasting were prevalent in 36·9 %, 25·5 % and 12·1 % of children. Mean daily vitamin A intake from liver was 537 and 325 μg retinol equivalents measured by the 24 h recall and liver frequency questionnaire, respectively. Liver was consumed in 92·7 % of households and by 84·7 % of children; liver intake was inversely related to socio-economic status (P < 0·05). The food fortification programme contributed 80 μg retinol equivalents and the vitamin A supplementation programme 122 μg retinol equivalents to daily vitamin A intake.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that liver alone provided more than 100 % of the Estimated Average Requirement of the pre-school children in this impoverished community. The results also challenge the notion generally held by international health bodies that vitamin A deficiency, poor anthropometric status and poverty go together, and reinforces the fact that South Africa is a culturally diverse society for which targeted interventions are required.
1Integrated Nutrition Programme,Department of Health,Northern Cape,South Africa.
Jana
J
Nel
2Nutritional Intervention Research Unit,Medical Research Council,PO Box 19070,Tygerberg 7505,Cape Town,South Africa.
Martha E
ME
van Stuijvenberg
2Nutritional Intervention Research Unit,Medical Research Council,PO Box 19070,Tygerberg 7505,Cape Town,South Africa.
Serina E
SE
Schoeman
2Nutritional Intervention Research Unit,Medical Research Council,PO Box 19070,Tygerberg 7505,Cape Town,South Africa.
Muhammad A
MA
Dhansay
3Biostatistics Unit,Medical Research Council,Cape Town,South Africa.
Carl J
CJ
Lombard
4Division of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Stellenbosch,South Africa.
Lisanne M
LM
du Plessis
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D011939:Mental Recall; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011203:Poverty; D012923:Social Class; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology
D014801:Vitamin A