The contribution of African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) to vitamin A intake and the influence of income in rural Kenya.

Abstract

Despite the increased recognition of African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) as important source of vitamin A, there is still paucity of research highlighting on the vitamin A intake attributed to them. The level and the extent of contribution of ALVs could inform programming, monitoring and evaluation of vitamin A-related nutrition and development programs. The study aimed at investigating the level of contribution of ALVs to household vitamin A intake and the influence of household monthly income in a rural setting, through use of selected data from a cross-sectional vitamin A consumption survey in Butere-Mumias District, western Kenya. A multistage cluster sampling procedure was used to select 814 households considered for the survey. It was found that plant sources contributed about 43.1% of total household vitamin A intake. ALVs contributed 65.7% of vitamin A from plant sources and 32.7 % of household vitamin A intake. Predominant ALV was the cowpea leaves which accounted for about 45% of vitamin A contributed by ALVs, 34% of the contribution of plant sources and 14.7% of household vitamin A intake. Although the influence of monthly income on the level of vitamin A from ALVs was not conclusive, there were some indications that lower intake from ALVs was positively correlated with lower incomes and vice versa. Income was weakly and negatively associated with household vitamin A intake (r=-1.92, 3.7% of variance explained), and the opposite was true for the proportion of income spent on food verses household vitamin A intake (r=1.64, 2.7% of variance explained). It was apparent that ALVs formed an important dietary source of vitamin A in rural households in western Kenya with cowpea leaves as a predominant contributor. In areas of similar environmental conditions, ALVs production, marketing and consumption should be promoted. There was no evidence that increase in income among the rural folk may likely improve ALVs consumption and vitamin A intake. It is thus recommended that development programs and policies consider ALVs as significant source of vitamin A, and that increments in incomes per se may not significantly influence household vitamin A intake and from ALVs.

Production, processing and storage techniques of african nightshade (Solanum spp.) seeds and their correlations with farmers’ characteristics in western Kenya

“…Majority of the farmers were not employed and depended entirely on mixed farming and local business where they sell most of their farm produce. This is in agreement with a study that pointed out that subsistence farming and casual labour were the leading sources of income for households in Butere-Mumias District [10].…”

Sun-dried cowpeas and amaranth leaves recipe improves β-carotene and retinol levels in serum and hemoglobin concentration among preschool children

“…Although malnutrition is a global issue, the effects of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and iron deficiency are more prevalent in developing countries, especially among children and women [1][2][3][4]. The world health organization has listed Kenya among 72 countries in the world suspected to have low serum retinol levels, with VAD prevalence of 76 % documented in 11 districts [5]. The effects of VAD such as morbidity and mortality of young children, maternal mortality and poor outcomes in pregnancy, and lactation and other diseases such as cancer and heart-related illnesses, can be avoided if the consumption of fruits and vegetable, especially indigenous dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV) is enhanced [1,[6][7][8].…”

Hydroponic production of vegetable Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) for improving nutritional security and economic viability in Kenya

“…ALVs are a diverse and widespread set of vegetables that have traditionally been consumed across Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa (Muhanji et al, 2011) but in many cases have been ignored at the expense of introduced vegetables such as kale and cabbage (Adeka et al, 2008; Okeno et al, 2003). ALVs like vegetable amaranth are the cheapest source of many nutrients in Kenya (Orech et al, 2007; Uusiku et al, 2010) and in some parts of western Kenya, ALVs contribute as much as 33% of total vitamin A to the diet (Oiye et al, 2009). This is extremely important in an area of the world where the daily intake of fruits and vegetables is well below dietary recommendations, and affordability of vegetables remains a challenge for the poor (FAO, 2012).…”