Composition of Some South Pacific Foods

Peters, Francesc; Tomono, Monette; Wills, P.A.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.1960.tb00325.x

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The only known nutrition studies of Kiribati pandanus fruit cultivars are one study using an older methodology and where cultivar names were not provided 25 and a more recent analysis of preserved pandanus powder 26 . These studies did not include fresh, named cultivars, and thus provide little information relevant to the issues associated with the promotion of local pandanus cultivars to address VAD.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Carotenoid content of pandanus fruit cultivars and other foods of the Republic of Kiribati

Englberger

Aalbersberg

Dolodolotawake

et al. 2006

Public Health Nutr.

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Background: Kiribati, a remote atoll island country of the Pacific, has serious problems of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Thus, it is important to identify locally grown acceptable foods that might be promoted to alleviate this problem. Pandanus fruit (Pandanus tectorius) is a well-liked indigenous Kiribati food with many cultivars that have orange/yellow flesh, indicative of carotenoid content. Few have been previously analysed. Aim: This study was conducted to identify cultivars of pandanus and other foods that could be promoted to alleviate VAD in Kiribati. Method: Ethnography was used to select foods and assess acceptability factors. Pandanus and other foods were analysed for b-and a-carotene, b-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and total carotenoids using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Of the nine pandanus cultivars investigated there was a great range of provitamin A carotenoid levels (from 62 to 19 086 mg b-carotene/100 g), generally with higher levels in those more deeply coloured. Seven pandanus cultivars, one giant swamp taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) cultivar and native fig (Ficus tinctoria) had significant provitamin A carotenoid content, meeting all or half of estimated daily vitamin A requirements within normal consumption patterns. Analyses in different laboratories confirmed high carotenoid levels in pandanus but showed that there are still questions as to how high the levels might be, owing to variation arising from different handling/preparation/analytical techniques. Conclusions: These carotenoid-rich acceptable foods should be promoted for alleviating VAD in Kiribati and possibly other Pacific contexts where these foods are important. Further research in the Pacific is needed to identify additional indigenous foods with potential health benefits.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Carotenoid content of pandanus fruit cultivars and other foods of the Republic of Kiribati

Englberger

Aalbersberg

Dolodolotawake

et al. 2006

Public Health Nutr.

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“…The unseeded (Artocarpus altilis ) and seeded (Artocarpus mariannensis ) cultivars 77 are important respectively for the volcanic and atoll islands 84 . Analyses of unseeded breadfruit indicate a low content of carotenoid 69,85 , but that it is a good source of energy and dietary fibre, and a reasonable source of vitamin C. Seeds provide protein and thiamin 4,30,86 .…”

Section: Breadfruit (Artocarpus Spp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Giant swamp taro grows in more saline soils, can remain in the soil for 10 years and still be edible, is not seasonal and endures hurricanes 5,10,93 , thus providing food security. It is a good source of energy, fibre and calcium 4,30,86,94 .…”

Section: Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma Chamissonis)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contrary to common Western perceptions, the traditional Pacific diet did not include an abundance of different fruits. Papaya and mango, which are VA-rich if ripe 30,66,69,86 , were introduced to Micronesia by Europeans in the 19th century 5,6,11 -14,100 . Yet in FSM papaya and mango are commonly eaten green.…”

Section: Pandanus (Pandanus Tectorius)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pandanus, many cultivars of which are known to be rich in vitamin A 30,69,86,95,96 , is another plant that can be grown in saline soils and is a major food on atoll islands 93 . The soft part of the pandanus key is chewed and sucked; on some islands, pandanus has been boiled for eating or dried for storage and made into flour for later cooking 95 .…”

Section: Pandanus (Pandanus Tectorius)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Insights on food and nutrition in the Federated States of Micronesia: a review of the literature

Englberger

Marks

Fitzgerald

2003

Public Health Nutr.

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Background: Nutrition-related disorders, including vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and chronic diseases, are serious problems in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Many suggest that these disorders are new problems related to dietary and lifestyle changes. In the past four decades, imported foods, such as white rice, flour, sugar, refined foods and fatty meats, have increasingly replaced local foods in the diet. Aim: A literature review was conducted to understand underlying issues related to dietary change and obtain insights for nutrition research and interventions. Method: Published and unpublished papers from different disciplines were reviewed and collated for information on food and nutrition in FSM. Topics covered were historical background, local foods, infant and child feeding, dietary assessment, and nutritional status. Particular focus was on information and data relating to VAD, the primary topic that led to the review of the literature. Conclusions: FSM, a tropical country of abundant agricultural resources, has suffered a great loss in production and consumption of local foods. Inconsistent external and internal government policies and food aid programmes have contributed to the problem. Further research on the nutrient content of local foods and factors affecting production, acquisition and consumption is needed, as well as a broad, well-planned, intersectoral intervention aimed at dietary improvement for all age groups in the population.

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Maternal work and childhood nutritional status among the Purari, Papua New Guinea

Ulijaszek

2003

American J Hum Biol

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In traditional economies, body size, physical work capacity, subsistence productivity, and nutrition of adults may be interrelated, and one cross-generational effect of these relationships may operate through the household, influencing nutritional status of children. In this analysis, the relationships among adult body size, work productivity in terms of time spent making sago starch, dietary diversity, nutrient availability, and childhood nutritional status are examined in the Purari population of Papua New Guinea, a group largely dependent on the starchy staple palm sago, which is devoid of all nutrients apart from energy. Observations of work scheduling, household food and nutrient availability, and nutritional status were carried out for 16 women, their households, and their children. A multiple regression model of hours spent in sago making on a particular day with days spent in other subsistence activities showed a negative relationship with the number of days spent in sago-making and a positive relationship with the number of days spent fishing. The number of hours spent in sago-making on a particular day was also positively related to daily per capita availability of protein at the household level. This is not a function of maternal nutritional status, however, since there is no association between body size of adult females and the number of hours spent making sago on a particular day. Nor does the greater per capita protein availability at the household level in households where women spend longer on a particular day in sago-making result in improved childhood nutritional status. Since relationships among adult body size, work productivity, dietary diversity, nutrient availability, and childhood nutritional status are only partially demonstrated in this population, it may be that these linkages may only be important if physically arduous work is needed more consistently than is the case in the Purari delta.

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Composition of Some South Pacific Foods

Cited by 18 publications

References 7 publications

Carotenoid content of pandanus fruit cultivars and other foods of the Republic of Kiribati

Carotenoid content of pandanus fruit cultivars and other foods of the Republic of Kiribati

Insights on food and nutrition in the Federated States of Micronesia: a review of the literature

Maternal work and childhood nutritional status among the Purari, Papua New Guinea

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