Seasonal variation in food pattern but not in energy and nutrient intakes of rural Beninese school-aged children

Abstract

Background: Inadequate energy and nutrient intakes are a major nutritional problem in developing countries. A recent study in Beninese school-aged children in different seasons revealed a high prevalence of stunting and poor iron status that might be related to the food pattern. Objective: To analyse the food pattern and resulting energy and nutrient intakes of rural Beninese school-aged children in relation to season and school attendance. Subjects and methods: The study was performed in northern Benin in eighty randomly selected children aged 6-8 years. Dietary intake was assessed using observed weighed records. Food, energy and nutrient intakes were measured in post-and pre-harvest seasons. Complete food consumption data sets were available for seventy-five children. Results: Food pattern showed seasonal variations. Cereals, roots and tubers were the main staple foods. Contributions of animal products to the diet were very small. The food pattern was not different for either boys v. girls or for children attending v. not attending school. Median daily energy intakes were 5?0 and 5?3 MJ in the post-and pre-harvest season, respectively. Only fat and vitamin C showed seasonal differences (P , 0?05). Energy and nutrient intakes were different for boys and girls but, unexpectedly, not for children attending v. not attending school. Conclusions: Seasonal variations in food pattern did not result in seasonality in energy and nutrient intakes. Because the children's diet was low in animal products, protein, fat and vitamin C and high in fibre, the absorption of fat, fatsoluble vitamins, carotenoids, Fe and Zn might be low. Fe and Zn bioavailability from such a diet needs further investigation.

Seasonal variation in food intake and the interaction effects of sex and age among adults in southern Brazil

“…Availability represents an important barrier for the intake of fruits and vegetables 207 in some countries (6), and harvests might determine choice in intake of fruits and 208 vegetables in others (8,27). Health patterns such as normal blood pressure (28), absence 209 of cardiovascular disease (9), and normal lipid levels (12,13) are likely to be the result 210 of lifestyle, genes, and environmental characteristics, but their relation to seasonal 211 variation has not been clearly linked.…”

“…were not linear with age (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49), and 60 + years old, respectively). There was a 32 linear and significant increase of vegetable intake for women, whereas the variation was 33 non-linear and of lesser magnitude for men (4).…”

Variação sazonal na ingestão alimentar de adultos de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro

“…Several studies assessed possible sources of variability capable of interfering with the measurement of FI of populations, such as seasonality [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . The effect of seasonality on FI depends on cultural, ecological, geographic and meteorological factors and the industrialization level of a country 31 , apart from factors intrinsic to individuals (sex and age).…”

Prevalence of anaemia, deficiencies of iron and vitamin A and their determinants in rural women and young children: a cross-sectional study in Kalalé district of northern Benin

“…At the subnational level, in northern Benin, macronutrient intakes are also too low (5,6) . Lack of dietary diversity is a particularly severe problem in Benin where diets are based predominantly on starchy staples with little or no animal products and few fresh fruits and vegetables (1,2,7) .…”