Nutritional status and dietary intake of lactating Yoruba mothers in Nigeria

Nutrition and the commoditization of food in sub-Saharan Africa

During the past decade, Africa, more than any other continent, has been associated with famine and malnutrition. The Sahelian drought of the early 1970s, the Wollo and Karamoja famines and most recently, mass starvation in Ethiopia, have followed one another in rapid succession. The term 'food crisis' continually crops up in the popular and academic press. An increasing number of researchers probe possible causes; many seek a systemic reason for the present situation. One working hypothesis is that increasing commoditization of food has undermined Africa's food systems. This paper does not purport to prove or disprove this. Less ambitiously, its aim is to draw attention to inter-relationships between commoditization and physical and social aspects of African food systems, tracing their possible effects on the nutritional status of the African population. In so doing, some of the complexities of developing food production and consumption in the transition from peasant societies to more urban-based national economies become evident. The paper is divided into three main parts: a discussion of conceptual categories and general background information about sub-Saharan African food zones and commodity and factor markets; a review of literature on rural food availability and nutrition; and a review of urban food availability and nutrition.

Plasma ascorbic acid levels in Nigerian children of Niger delta region of Nigeria

The plasma level of ascorbic acid has been used as a measure of both dietary intake and body reserve of the vitamin. In growing children, ascorbic acid is particularly important for the enhancement of the formation of bone matrix. Although the occurrence of scurvy in the tropics is exceptional and rarely reported in children, available data on plasma ascorbic acid level in children especially in Nigeria is almost non-existent. An earlier report found the mean plasma ascorbic level for Nigerian children to be 0.25mg/100ml. Using a modification of Kuther's method, blood plasma from 50 subjects was analysed for plasma ascorbic acid concentration. The subjects were primary school children in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, both sexes, aged between 8 and 12 years. Their mean plasma ascorbic acid level was found to be 0.71mg/100ml with a standard deviation of 0.118mg/100ml.68% of them were normal and 32% subnormal. None was deficient. There was no relationship among the children, between plasma ascorbic level and sex, age, weight or environment.

Zinc, copper and iron concentrations in the plasma and diets of lactating Nigerian women

Zinc, copper, iron, protein and energy intakes of 232 lactating women (consuming self-selected diets during the first 3 months post-partum) were computed from food intake values obtained using a 3 d dietary-recall method. Non-pregnant, non-lactating women (100) served as controls. Blood samples of subjects were also analysed for packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentrations as well as for plasma Zn, Cu and Fe levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Except for Fe, intakes of all nutrients measured were significantly lower than recommended dietary allowances for lactation. Daily mean (and SD) Zn, Cu, Fe (mg), protein (g) and energy (MJ) intakes for lactating women were 8.2 (1.6), 1.6 (0.5), 29.0 (5.8), 52.4 (9.2) and 10.21 respectively. There was a significant intercorrelation between the different nutrients in the diet. Mean (and SD) plasma Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations (micrograms/l) during the first 3 months of lactation were 666.0 (76.0), 1290.0 (150.0) and 730.0 (185) respectively. These values were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the case of Zn and Fe and higher in the case of Cu than those of non-pregnant, non-lactating women. Maternal plasma levels of the trace elements also varied significantly with nutritional status as indexed by haemoglobin status. Correlation analysis between dietary and plasma trace element concentrations was significant for Zn (r 0.26, P less than 0.0001) and Fe (r 0.17, P less than 0.05). Dietary protein intake was significantly correlated with plasma Zn (r 0.18, P less than 0.005) and Fe (r 0.12, P less than 0.05). While maternal weight, arm circumference and skinfold thickness measurements tended to decrease with increase in the period of lactation, growth performance of entirely breast-fed babies was satisfactory as at the 12th week post-partum.