Variation in crop zinc concentration influences estimates of dietary Zn inadequacy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies worldwide. Accurate estimates of Zn intake would facilitate the design and implementation of effective nutritional interventions.

Objective

We sought to improve estimates of dietary Zn intake by evaluating staple crop Zn content and dietary Zn consumption by children under the age of 5 in 9 rural districts of Uganda.

Methods

We measured the Zn content of 581 crop samples from household farms and 167 crop samples from nearby markets, and administered food frequency questionnaires to the primary caretakers of 237 children. We estimated Zn consumption using 3 sources of crop Zn content: (i) the HarvestPlus food composition table (FCT) for Uganda, (ii) measurements from household crops, a

SUBMITTER: Bevis LEM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7347138 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature