Snacks are important for fat and vitamin intakes among rural African women: a cross-sectional study from Malawi

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the contribution of energy and selected nutrients from foods eaten as snacks and as meals. Subjects and methods: Forty-four nonpregnant women in the reproductive age, of whom 20 were lactating, participated in this study. Women from rural households were randomly selected and energy and nutrient intakes were estimated using 2 days' observed weighed food record. Snacks eaten between meals were estimated by weighed food record as well as recall, thrice per day. Results: The largest proportions (mean7s.e.) of fat (3373.6%), vitamin C (3674.1%) and a large proportion of vitamin A (3074.4%) intakes were from snacks. Furthermore, snacks provided 20% of the energy intakes. Conclusion: Snacks are important for energy and nutrient intakes and adequacies in rural African women and have the potential to combat energy and nutrient deficiencies in low-income countries.

Calcium content, in vitro digestibility, and bioaccessibility in leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), and drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera)

“…The current calcium RDA for pregnant and lactating women is 1300 mg/day for women aged 14-18 years and 1000 mg/day for women aged 19-50 years 23 . A dietary intake study undertaken in Malawi, Africa, showed that calcium intake from women was lower than the recommended intake with average intake of 620 mg/day for non-lactating women and 622 mg/day for lactating women 24 . Another nutrient intake study conducted in South Africa in three ethnic groups (black, white and mixed ancestry subjects) found that mean dietary calcium intake was higher in white subjects than in black and mixed ancestry subjects; however, calcium intake was low in all the groups with about half of the RDA of 1000 mg/day 25 .…”