Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria

Background Inadequate protein intake is known to be deleterious in animals. Using WHO consensus documents for human nutrient requirements, the protein:energy ratio (P:E) of an adequate diet is > 5%. Cassava has a very low protein content. This study tested the hypothesis that Nigerian and Kenyan ch...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stephenson, K., Amthor, R., Mallowa, S., Nungo, R., Maziya-Dixon, B.B., Gichuki, S., Mbanaso, A., Manary, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/88011
_version_ 1855527997307617280
author Stephenson, K.
Amthor, R.
Mallowa, S.
Nungo, R.
Maziya-Dixon, B.B.
Gichuki, S.
Mbanaso, A.
Manary, M.
author_browse Amthor, R.
Gichuki, S.
Mallowa, S.
Manary, M.
Maziya-Dixon, B.B.
Mbanaso, A.
Nungo, R.
Stephenson, K.
author_facet Stephenson, K.
Amthor, R.
Mallowa, S.
Nungo, R.
Maziya-Dixon, B.B.
Gichuki, S.
Mbanaso, A.
Manary, M.
author_sort Stephenson, K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Background Inadequate protein intake is known to be deleterious in animals. Using WHO consensus documents for human nutrient requirements, the protein:energy ratio (P:E) of an adequate diet is > 5%. Cassava has a very low protein content. This study tested the hypothesis that Nigerian and Kenyan children consuming cassava as their staple food are at greater risk for inadequate dietary protein intake than those children who consume less cassava. Methods A 24 hour dietary recall was used to determine the food and nutrient intake of 656 Nigerian and 449 Kenyan children aged 2-5 years residing in areas where cassava is a staple food. Anthropometric measurements were conducted. Diets were scored for diversity using a 12 point score. Pearson's Correlation Coefficients were calculated to relate the fraction of dietary energy obtained from cassava with protein intake, P:E, and dietary diversity. Results The fraction of dietary energy obtained from cassava was > 25% in 35% of Nigerian children and 89% of Kenyan children. The mean dietary diversity score was 4.0 in Nigerian children and 4.5 in Kenyan children, although the mean number of different foods consumed on the survey day in Nigeria was greater than Kenya, 7.0 compared to 4.6. 13% of Nigerian and 53% of Kenyan children surveyed had inadequate protein intake. The fraction of dietary energy derived from cassava was negatively correlated with protein intake, P:E, and dietary diversity. Height-for age z score was directly associated with protein intake and negatively associated with cassava consumption using regression modeling that controlled for energy and zinc intake. Conclusions Inadequate protein intake was found in the diets of Nigerian and Kenyan children consuming cassava as a staple food. Inadequate dietary protein intake is associated with stunting in this population. Interventions to increase protein intake in this vulnerable population should be the focus of future work.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace88011
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2010
publishDateRange 2010
publishDateSort 2010
publisher Springer
publisherStr Springer
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace880112025-11-11T10:31:18Z Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria Stephenson, K. Amthor, R. Mallowa, S. Nungo, R. Maziya-Dixon, B.B. Gichuki, S. Mbanaso, A. Manary, M. cassava protein content nutritional value dietary inadequate protein intake children Background Inadequate protein intake is known to be deleterious in animals. Using WHO consensus documents for human nutrient requirements, the protein:energy ratio (P:E) of an adequate diet is > 5%. Cassava has a very low protein content. This study tested the hypothesis that Nigerian and Kenyan children consuming cassava as their staple food are at greater risk for inadequate dietary protein intake than those children who consume less cassava. Methods A 24 hour dietary recall was used to determine the food and nutrient intake of 656 Nigerian and 449 Kenyan children aged 2-5 years residing in areas where cassava is a staple food. Anthropometric measurements were conducted. Diets were scored for diversity using a 12 point score. Pearson's Correlation Coefficients were calculated to relate the fraction of dietary energy obtained from cassava with protein intake, P:E, and dietary diversity. Results The fraction of dietary energy obtained from cassava was > 25% in 35% of Nigerian children and 89% of Kenyan children. The mean dietary diversity score was 4.0 in Nigerian children and 4.5 in Kenyan children, although the mean number of different foods consumed on the survey day in Nigeria was greater than Kenya, 7.0 compared to 4.6. 13% of Nigerian and 53% of Kenyan children surveyed had inadequate protein intake. The fraction of dietary energy derived from cassava was negatively correlated with protein intake, P:E, and dietary diversity. Height-for age z score was directly associated with protein intake and negatively associated with cassava consumption using regression modeling that controlled for energy and zinc intake. Conclusions Inadequate protein intake was found in the diets of Nigerian and Kenyan children consuming cassava as a staple food. Inadequate dietary protein intake is associated with stunting in this population. Interventions to increase protein intake in this vulnerable population should be the focus of future work. 2010-12 2017-09-22T13:08:38Z 2017-09-22T13:08:38Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/88011 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Stephenson, K., Amthor, R., Mallowa, S., Nungo, R., Maziya-Dixon, B., Gichuki, S., ... & Manary, M. (2010). Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria. Nutrition Journal, 9(9), 1-6.
spellingShingle cassava
protein content
nutritional value
dietary
inadequate protein intake
children
Stephenson, K.
Amthor, R.
Mallowa, S.
Nungo, R.
Maziya-Dixon, B.B.
Gichuki, S.
Mbanaso, A.
Manary, M.
Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria
title Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria
title_full Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria
title_fullStr Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria
title_short Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria
title_sort consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2 5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake an observational study in kenya and nigeria
topic cassava
protein content
nutritional value
dietary
inadequate protein intake
children
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/88011
work_keys_str_mv AT stephensonk consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria
AT amthorr consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria
AT mallowas consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria
AT nungor consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria
AT maziyadixonbb consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria
AT gichukis consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria
AT mbanasoa consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria
AT manarym consumingcassavaasastaplefoodplaceschildren25yearsoldatriskforinadequateproteinintakeanobservationalstudyinkenyaandnigeria