Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T15:24:05.245Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Relative contribution of banana and plantain products to the nutritional requirements for iron, zinc and vitamin A of infants and mothers in Cameroon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2007

Fernande G. Honfo
Affiliation:
 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 08 BP 0932, Cotonou, Benin
A. P. Polycarpe Kayodé
Affiliation:
 Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Département de nutrition et de Sciences Alimentaires (UAC/FSA/DNSA), BP 526, Cotonou, Benin
Ousmane Coulibaly
Affiliation:
 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 08 BP 0932, Cotonou, Benin
Abdou Tenkouano
Affiliation:
 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, BP 2008, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Get access

Abstract

Introduction. Banana and plantain (ban+plant) play a substantial role in people’s diet in Cameroon. A survey was carried out in 240 households in four localities to determine the daily consumption of (ban+plant)-derived foods and the contribution of these foods to iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and vitamin A intake by children of less than 5 years of age and mothers. Materials and methods. The daily consumption level was assessed by a 24-h dietary recall during three consecutive days. The Fe, Zn and β-carotene (precursor of vitamin A) contents of (ban+plant) products were determined and the bioavailability of these micronutrients was estimated using the [phytate:Fe] and [phytate:Zn] molar ratios. Results. On a dry-weight basis, Fe content in (ban+plant)-based foods ranged from (0.78 to 1.32) mg·100 g–1; Zn content from (0.22 to 0.41) mg·100 g–1 and β-carotene content from (336 to 724) µg·100 g–1. Phytate content was between (0.17 and 1.23) g·100 g–1, with [phytate:Fe] and [phytate:Zn] molar ratios above the estimated bioavailability thresholds of 10–14 and 15, respectively, for all dishes. The daily quantities consumed by rural and urban subjects were not significantly different. The daily supply of Fe by (ban+plant) to children and mothers was 5% and 2%; Zn supply was 3% and 4%, respectively. In contrast, the daily vitamin A supply by (ban+plant) foods was relatively significant, reaching 13% on average per day for both children and mothers. In certain cases, this contribution was as high as 20%. Conclusion. Estimated bioavailability of Fe and Zn is low in (ban+plant) that, therefore, poorly contribute to Fe and Zn intake in the households. However, (ban+plant) are a good source of β-carotene and can make a substantial contribution to meeting vitamin A requirements of children and their mothers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences, 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Frossard, E., Chunwongse, J., Tanksley, S.D., Potential for increasing the content and bioavailability of Fe, Zn and Ca in plants for human nutrition, J. Sci. Food Agric. 80 (2000) 861879. 3.0.CO;2-P>CrossRef
Gibson, R.S., Hotz, C., Temple, L., Yeudall, F., Mtitimuni, B., Ferguson, E.L., Dietary strategies to combat deficiencies of iron, zinc, and vitamin A in developing countries: development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, Food Nutr. Bull. 21 (2000) 219231. CrossRef
Anon., Third report on the world nutrition situation, United Nations Adm. Comm. Coord. / Subcomm. Nutr. (UNACC/SCN), Geneva, Switzerland, 1997.
Hallberg, L., Hulthén, L., Prediction of dietary iron absorption: an algorithm for calculating absorption and bioavailability of dietary iron, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71 (2000) 11471160.
Brown, K.H., Person, J.M., Rivera, J., Allen, L.H., Effect of supplemental zinc on the growth and serum zinc concentrations of pre-pubertal children: a meta-analysis of randomised trials, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 75 (2002) 10621071.
Hotz, C., Brown, K., Assessment of the risk of zinc deficiency in populations and options for its control, Food Nutr. Bull. 25 (1) (2004) 194195.
Anon., Vitamin and mineral deficiency, a global progress report, UNICEF and Micronutrient Initiative, UNICEF, New York, USA, 2004.
Anon., Trace elements in human nutrition and health, World Health Organ. (FAO/WHO), Geneva, Switzerland, 1996.
Sommer A., West K.P., Vitamin A deficiency: health, survival, and vision, Oxford Univ. Press, New York, USA, 1996.
Mclarean D.S., M. Frigg., Sight and life manual on vitamin A deficiency disorders (VADD), 2nd ed., Task Force Sight and Life, Basel, Switzerland, 2001.
Anon., Progrès en vue de l’élimination des troubles dûs à la carence en vitamine A, Rapport d’une consultation conjointe d’experts, OMS/UNICEF, Genève, Switzerland, 2002, 36 p.
Cervinskas J., Lotfi M., Vitamin A deficiency: key resources in its prevention and elimination, IDRC, Micronutrient Initiative 59, Ottawa, Canada, 1995, 59 p.
Chauhan, K.S., Pundir, J.P.S., Singh, S., Studies on the mineral composition of certain fruits, Haryana J. Hortic. Sci. 20 (3–4) (1991) 210213.
Sharrock S., Frison E., Musa production around the world – trends, varieties and regional importance, in: INIBAP Annu. Rep., INIBAP, Montpellier, France, 1998, pp. 42–47.
Anon., Bulletin of statistics, FAO Bull. 2 (2) (2002).
Trèche, S., Importance de l’utilisation des racines, tubercules et bananes à cuire en alimentation humaine dans le monde, Cah. Rech. Dév. 43 (1997) 95109.
Grimaldi J., Bikia A., Le grand livre de la cuisine camerounaise, Sopecam, Yaoundé, Cameroun, 1985.
Dury, S., Bricas, N., Tchango Tchango, J., Temple, L., Bikoi, A., The determinants of urban plantain consumption in Cameroon, Food Qual. Prefer. 32 (3) (2002) 8182. CrossRef
Ajayi, A.R., Aneke, M.O., Consumption and expenditure patterns of banana and plantain consumers in Nsukka Urban, Nigeria, Infomusa 11 (1) (2002) 5053.
Monsen, E.R., Iron nutrition and absorption: dietary factors which impact iron bioavailability, J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 88 (1988) 786790.
Allen L.H., Ahluwalia N., Improving iron status through diet. The application of knowledge concerning dietary iron bioavailability in human populations, OMNI opportunities for micronutrients interventions, John Snow, Inc./OMNI Project, Washington, DC, USA, 1997.
Bingham S.A., Nelson M., Alison P., Methods for data collection at an individual level, in: Cameron M.E., van Staveren W.A. (Eds.), Manual on methodology for food consumption studies, Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, UK, 1988.
Benton Jones Jr., Vernon W., Sampling, handling and analyzing plant tissue samples, in: Westerman R.L. (Ed.), Soil testing and plant Analysis, 3rd ed., SSSA Book Ser. Nº3, 1990.
Takyi, E.K., Children’s consumption of dark green leafy vegetables with added fat enhances serum retinol, J. Nutr. 129 (1999) 15491554.
Makower, R.U., Extraction and determination of phytic acid in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Cereal. 47 (1970) 228.
Zeder C., Analysis of phytic acid content in food (spectrophotometric), Labor für Humanernaehrung der ETHZ, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, 1998.
Hurrell, R.F., Reddy, M.R., Burri, J., Cook, J.D., Phytate degradation determines the effect of industrial processing and home cooking on iron absorption from cereal-based foods, Brit. J. Nutr. 88 (2002) 117123. CrossRef
Kayodé A.P.P., Diversity, users’ perception and food processing of sorghum: implications for dietary iron and zinc supply, Wageningen Univ., Thesis, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2006, 152 p.
Saha, P.R., Weaver, C.M., Mason, A.C., Mineral bioavailability in rats from intrinsically labeled whole wheat flour of various phytate levels, J. Agric. Food Chem. 42 (1994) 25312535. CrossRef
Ngoh Newilah, G., Tchango Tchango, J., Fokou, E., Etoa, F.X., Processing and food uses of bananas and plantains in Cameroon, Fruits 60 (4) (2005) 245253. CrossRef
Sharrock S., Use of Musa, in: INIBAP Annu. Rep., INIBAP, Montpellier, France, 1996, pp. 42–44.
Anon., National nutrient database for standard reference, USDA, Release 17, New York, USA, 2004.
Hardisson, A., Rubio, C., Baez, A., Martin, M., Alvarez, R., Diaz, E., Mineral composition of the banana (Musa acuminata) from the island of Tenerife, Food Chem. 73 (2001) 153161. CrossRef
Englberger, L., Carotenoid-rich bananas in Micronesia, Infomusa 12 (2) (2004) 25.
Benadé, A.J.S., A place for palm fruit oil to eliminate vitamin A deficiency, Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr. 12 (3) (2003) 369372.
Stover R.H., Simmomds N.W., Bananas, 3rd ed., Longman, London, UK, 1987.
Baiyeri, K.P., Tenkouano, A., Genetic and cropping cycle effects on proximate composition and antinutrient contents of flour made from eleven Musa genotypes, Glob. J. Pure Appl. Sci. 12 (2) (2006) 177182.
Gibson R.S., Ferguson E.L., An interactive 24-h recall for assessing the adequacy of iron and zinc intakes in developing countries, ILSI Press, Wash., DC, USA, 1999.
Davies, N.T., Olpin, S.E., Studies on the phytate:zinc molar contents in diets as a determinant of Zn availability to young rats, Br. J. Nutr. 41 (1979) 591603. CrossRef
Oberleas, D., Harland, B.F., Phytate content of food: effect on dietary zinc bioavailability, J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 79 (1981) 433436.
Suntharalingam, S., Ravindran, G., Physical and biochemical properties of green banana flour, Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 43 (1993) 1995. CrossRef
Latham M.C., La nutrition dans les pays en développement, FAO, Rome, Italie, 2001.