title: 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 conducted 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 μmol/L adjusted for infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 587 households of a mother-child dyad participated in the dietary intake assessment. 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, respectively. 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 micronutrients appeared to be adequate with the exception of calcium. Median vitamin A intake was very high both for children (1038 μg RAE/day) and women (2441 μg 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. Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency ranged from moderate (16.9 %) among children to virtually non-existent (3.4 %) among women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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 interventions should focus dissemination in states where red palm oil is not widely consumed.
authors.affiliation: HarvestPlus c/o International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, United States of America.
authors.forename: Fabiana F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: De Moura
authors.affiliation: HarvestPlus c/o International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mourad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moursi
authors.affiliation: HarvestPlus Consultant, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Abdelrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubowa
authors.affiliation: HarvestPlus c/o International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, United States of America.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: HarvestPlus c/o International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boy
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Babatunde
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oguntona
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Rasaki A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sanusi
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Busie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maziya-Dixon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D002365:Manihot; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D007501:Iron