Dawd Gashu1, Barbara J Stoecker2, Abdulaziz Adish3, Gulelat D Haki4, Karim Bougma5, Grace S Marquis5. 1. 1Center for Food Science and Nutrition,Addis Ababa University,PO Box 1176,Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. 2. 2Department of Nutritional Sciences,Oklahoma State University,Stillwater, OK,USA. 3. 3Micronutrient Initiative Africa,Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. 4. 4Department of Food Science and Technology,University of Botswana,Botswana College of Agriculture,Gaborone,Botswana. 5. 5School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition,McGill University,Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC,Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Children from low-income countries consuming predominantly plant-based diets but little animal products are considered to be at risk of Fe deficiency. The present study determined the Fe status of children from resource-limited rural households. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twenty six kebeles (the smallest administrative unit) from six zones of the Amhara region, Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: Children aged 54-60 months (n 628). RESULTS: Grain, roots or tubers were the main dietary components consumed by 100 % of the study participants, followed by pulses, legumes or nuts (66·6 %). Consumption of fruit and vegetables (19·3 %) and meat, poultry and fish (2·2 %) was low. Children had a mean dietary diversity score of 2·1 (sd 0·8). Most children (74·8 %, n 470) were in the lowest dietary diversity group (1-2 food groups). Rate of any morbidity in the preceding 14 d was 22·9 % (n 114). Infection or inflammation (α1-acid glycoprotein >1·2 g/l) was present in 30·2 % (n 184) of children. Children had a high rate of stunting (43·2 %). Of the total sample, 13·6 % (n 82) of children were anaemic, 9·1 % (n 57) were Fe deficient and 5·3 % (n 32) had Fe-deficiency anaemia. Fe-deficiency erythropoiesis was present in 14·2 % (n 60) of children. CONCLUSIONS: Despite consuming a predominantly plant-based diet and little animal-source foods, there was a low prevalence of Fe-deficiency anaemia. This illustrates that dietary patterns can be inharmonious with Fe biochemical status; thus, Fe-related interventions require biochemical screening.
OBJECTIVE:Children from low-income countries consuming predominantly plant-based diets but little animal products are considered to be at risk of Fe deficiency. The present study determined the Fe status of children from resource-limited rural households. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twenty six kebeles (the smallest administrative unit) from six zones of the Amhara region, Ethiopia. SUBJECTS:Children aged 54-60 months (n 628). RESULTS: Grain, roots or tubers were the main dietary components consumed by 100 % of the study participants, followed by pulses, legumes or nuts (66·6 %). Consumption of fruit and vegetables (19·3 %) and meat, poultry and fish (2·2 %) was low. Children had a mean dietary diversity score of 2·1 (sd 0·8). Most children (74·8 %, n 470) were in the lowest dietary diversity group (1-2 food groups). Rate of any morbidity in the preceding 14 d was 22·9 % (n 114). Infection or inflammation (α1-acid glycoprotein >1·2 g/l) was present in 30·2 % (n 184) of children. Children had a high rate of stunting (43·2 %). Of the total sample, 13·6 % (n 82) of children were anaemic, 9·1 % (n 57) were Fe deficient and 5·3 % (n 32) had Fe-deficiency anaemia. Fe-deficiency erythropoiesis was present in 14·2 % (n 60) of children. CONCLUSIONS: Despite consuming a predominantly plant-based diet and little animal-source foods, there was a low prevalence of Fe-deficiency anaemia. This illustrates that dietary patterns can be inharmonious with Fe biochemical status; thus, Fe-related interventions require biochemical screening.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anaemia; Animal-source foods; Children; Iron deficiency; Plant-based diets
Authors: Nicole M Delimont; Christopher I Vahl; Rosemary Kayanda; Wences Msuya; Michael Mulford; Paul Alberghine; George Praygod; Julius Mngara; Sajid Alavi; Brian L Lindshield Journal: Curr Dev Nutr Date: 2019-04-10