Nutritional status and dietary intakes of children aged 2–5 years and their caregivers in a rural South African community

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional status regarding vitamin A, iron and anthropometric indices and dietary intakes of children aged 2-5 years and their caregivers in a rural South African community. Micronutrient, haematological, anthropometric and dietary indicators were used to assess nutritional status during a cross-sectional survey. The setting was a low socioeconomic rural African community (Ndunakazi), approximately 60 km northwest of the coastal city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The subjects were children aged 2-5 years (n = 164), and their caregivers (n = 137). Of the preschool children, 50% had a low vitamin A status (serum retinol < 20 micrograms/dL), 54% were anaemic (Hb < 11 micrograms/dL), 33% had depleted iron stores (serum ferritin levels < 10 micrograms/L), and 21% were stunted (Z-score for height-for-age < -2SD). Of the caregivers, 30% had a low vitamin A status (serum retinol < 30 micrograms/dL), 44% were anaemic (Hb < 11 micrograms/dL), 19% had depleted iron stores (serum ferritin levels < 12 micrograms/L), and 40% and 26% were overweight (BMI > or = 24 and < 30) and obese (BMI > or = 30), respectively. The children and caregivers consumed a cereal-based diet, with phutu (a stiff porridge made with maize meal), rice and bread as staple foods. Quantitative dietary analysis showed that the dietary intakes were high in carbohydrates (approximately 70% of total energy), while fat intake was within the prudent dietary guideline of 30% of total energy intake. Median dietary intakes were below 50% of the RDA for calcium, zinc (children only), vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin (children only) and vitamin B12. These preschool children and their caregivers consumed a high carbohydrate diet deficient in most of the essential micronutrients. The poor quality of the diet was reflected in a poor vitamin A and iron status, and one-fifth of the children showed linear growth retardation. Nutrition education and intervention programmes should address micronutrient deficiencies, with the focus not only on quantity, but also quality of the diet.

Anaemia control and the interpretation of biochemical tests for iron status in children

“…The relationship of clinical factors with anaemia is shown in Table 2. A comparative analysis of the anaemia status in the present study and that of the children at baseline in phase one of the Asenze study was discussed in a separate publication [21]. The relationship between anaemia status and the children’s anthropometric measures has also been discussed in a separate paper [22].…”

Maternal Iron Deficiency Worsens the Associative Learning Deficits and Hippocampal and Cerebellar Losses in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

“…In low-income populations of South Africa, where FASD rates may be highest, iron intakes of pregnant and lactating women seldom attain requirements (Hattingh et al 2008; May et al 2014b) and prevalence estimates range from 19%–86% for ID and 9%–20% for ID-anemia (Faber et al, 2001; Nojilana et al 2007). Such disadvantaged populations will have a substantial percentage of alcohol-exposed pregnancies that are also iron-deficient and thus are at risk for worsened outcomes due to these ID-alcohol interactions (Carter et al, 2007, 2012; Rufer et al 2012).…”

Zinc treatment ameliorates diarrhea and intestinal inflammation in undernourished rats

“…In a study conducted in rural South Africa, children who were fed with a high-carbohydrate diet (70% of total energy) and deprived in most micronutrients (including zinc), showed delayed linear growth [26]. …”