Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T09:48:31.324Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dietary intake and nutritional status of women and pre-school children in the Republic of the Maldives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Andrea M Golder ,
Jürgen G Erhardt ,
Veronika Scherbaum ,
Mohamed Saeed ,
Hans K Biesalski  and
Peter Fürst
Andrea M Golder
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Jürgen G Erhardt
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Veronika Scherbaum
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Mohamed Saeed
Affiliation:
UNICEF, Maldives, Goalhi No. 14, Bvruzo Mago, Male, Republic of the, Maldives
Hans K Biesalski
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Peter Fürst*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: Email b-c-nutr@uni-hohenheim.de
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

Malnutrition and poor nutritional status among children are common problems in the Republic of Maldives, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean. The aim of this study was to determine possible macro- and micronutrient deficiencies in the traditional Maldivian diet.

Design:

In five atolls, 333 women with children aged between 1 and 4 years who were no longer breast-fed were interviewed, using a 24-hour recall. Additionally, the weights and heights of both the women and children were measured, and blood samples from 15 women were collected for measurements of vitamins A and E, β-carotene, homocysteine, cholesterol and haemoglobin.

Results:

Of the women, 22% had a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5. Of the children, 41% were stunted, 14% were wasted and 51% were underweight. The women's and children's diets were sufficient in protein (14%) and carbohydrates (67%) but deficient in fat, which contributed only 19% to the total energy intake. Consumption of dietary substances that depend on vegetable and fruit intake (e.g. β-carotene, vitamin C, dietary fibre and folic acid) was low. The low intake of β-carotene was underlined by low plasma concentration. The estimated iron intake was low, although blood haemoglobin levels were normal.

Conclusions:

Marginal nutritional status and marginal malnutrition are due to low fat intake and selected micronutrient deficiency. Higher intakes of locally available vegetables and fruits and fat (especially for children) on a regular basis might reverse the deficits documented on the atolls.

Keywords

Nutritional statusDietary nutrient intake24-hour recallAnthropometryPre-school childrenWomenMaldives
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , June 2001 , pp. 773 - 780
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2001

References

1UNICEF, Maldives. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Report [unpublished]. Maldives: United Nations Children's Fund; 1996.Google Scholar
2DPH, Ministry of Health and Welfare, WHO and UNICEF. Nutritional Status and Child Feeding Practices of Maldivian Children – Report of the National Nutrition Survey [unpublished]. Maldives: Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare/World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund; 1994.Google Scholar
3Chakravarty, I. National Plan of Action for Nutrition of the Republic of Maldives [unpublished]. Maldives: World Health Organization; 1994.Google Scholar
4Saeed, M. Growth Chart Analysis Report [unpublished]. Maldives: United Nations Children's Fund; 1995.Google Scholar
5Pandav, CS. Iodine Deficiency Disorders in Maldives [unpublished]. Maldives: United Nations Children's Fund; 1995.Google Scholar
6Khanu, S, Saeed, M. Maldives Parasite Survey Report [unpublished]. Maldives: World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund; 1995.Google Scholar
7Gopalan, C, Rama Sastri, BV, Balasubramanian, SC. Nutritive Value of Indian Foods. Hyderabad: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, 1991.Google Scholar
8FAO. Requirements of Vitamin A, Iron, Folate and Vitamin B12. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, Geneva, 1985. FAO Food and Nutrition Series No. 23. Rome: United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, 1988.Google Scholar
9WHO. Energy and Protein Requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. WHO Technical Report Series No. 724. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1985.Google Scholar
10FAO. Traditional Food Plants. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper No. 42. Rome: United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, 1988.Google Scholar
11FAO. Requirements of Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Folate and Iron. Report of Joint FAO/WHO Report Group. Rome: United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, 1970.Google Scholar
12WHO/FAO. α-Tocopherol. In: Toxicological Evaluation of Certain Food Additives and Contaminants. WHO Food Additive Series No. 21. Cambridge: World Health Organization/United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, 1987; 55–69.Google Scholar
13Dietary Reference Intakes: Application in Dietary Assessment. Washington: National Academy Press, 2000.Google Scholar
14Shetty, PS, James, WPT. Body Mass Index – A Measure of Chronic Energy Deficiency in Adults. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper No. 56. Rome: United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, 1994.Google Scholar
15Latham, MC. Human Nutrition in the Developing World. FAO Food and Nutrition Series No. 29. Rome: United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, 1997.Google Scholar
16Erhardt, JG, Heinrich, F, Biesalski, HK. Determination of retinol, antioxidant vitamins and homocysteine in skin puncture blood. Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res. 1999; 69: 309–14.Google Scholar
17Olson, JA. Serum levels of vitamin A and carotenoids as reflectors of nutritional status. J Natl. Cancer Inst. 1984; 73: 1439–44.Google Scholar
18Gerlach, T, Biesalski, HK, Bassler, KH. Serum vitamin A determinations and their value in determining vitamin A status. Z. Ernahrungswiss. 1988; 27: 57–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Pilch, SM. Analysis of vitamin A data from the Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. J. Nutr.. 1987; 117: 636–40.Google Scholar
20WHO. Indicators for Assessing Vitamin A Deficiency and their Application in Monitoring and Evaluating Intervention Programmes. Micronutrient Series No. WHO/NUT/96.10. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1996.Google Scholar
21Biesalski, HK, Böhles, H, Esterbauer, H, Fürst, P, Gey, F, Hundsdörfer, G, Kasper, H, Sies, H, Weisburger, J. Consensus statement: antioxidant vitamins in prevention. Clin. Nutr.. 1997; 16: 151–5.Google Scholar
22Pietrzik, K, Bonstrup, A. Vitamins B12, B6 and folate as determinants of homocysteine concentration in the healthy population. Eur. J. Pediatr. 1998; 157(Suppl), 135S–8S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Vatassery, GT, Kezowski, AM, Eckfeldt, JH. Vitamin E concentration in human blood plasma and platelets. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1983; 37: 1020–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24Jordan, P, Brubacher, D, Moser, U, Stähelin, HB, Gey, KF. Vitamin E and vitamin A concentrations in plasma adjusted for cholesterol and triglycerides by multiple regression. Clin. Chem. 1995; 41: 924–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25Machlin, LJ, Vitamin, E. In: Machlin, LJ. Handbook of Vitamins. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1991.Google Scholar
26ACC/SCN. Controlling Iron Deficiency. Nutrition Policy Discussion Paper No. 9. Geneva: Administrative Committee on Coordination/SubCommittee on Nutrition, 1991.Google Scholar
27Houshiar-Rad, A, Omidvar, N, Mahmoodi, M, Kolahdooz, F, Amini, M. Dietary intake, anthropometry and birth outcome of rural pregnant women in two Iranian districts. Nutr. Res. 1998; 18: 1469–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28Moore, SE. Nutrition, immunity and the fetal and infant origins of disease hypothesis in developing countries. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 1998; 57: 241–7.Google Scholar
29Bingham, SA. The dietary assessment of individuals; methods, accuracy, new techniques and recommendations. Nutr. Abstr. Rev. 1987; 57: 705–42.Google Scholar
30Hambraeus, L. Dietary assessments: how to validate primary data before conclusions can be drawn. Scand. J. Nutr./Nahringsforskning 1998; 42: 66–8.Google Scholar
31FAO/WHO. Fats and Oils in Human Nutrition. Report of a Joint Expert Consultation. Food and Nutrition Paper No. 57. Rome: United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, 1994.Google Scholar
32Skinner, JD, Carruth, BR, Houck, KS, Coletta, F, Cotter, R, Ott, D, McLeod, M. Longitudinal study of nutrient and food intake of infants aged 2 to 24 months. JAMA 1997; 97: 496–504.Google Scholar
33Linder, MC. Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism. London: Prentice Hall International, 1991.Google Scholar
34Stähelin, HB, Gey, KF, Eichholzer, M, Lüdin, E. β-Carotene and cancer prevention: the Basel study. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1991; 53: 265S–9S.Google Scholar
35Bergström, J, Alvestrand, A, Fürst, P, Lindholm, B. Sulphur amino acids in plasma and muscle in patients with chronic renal failure: evidence for taurine depletion. J. Intern. Med. 1989; 226: 189–94.Google Scholar
36Suliman, ME, Anderstam, B, Bergström, J. Evidence of taurine depletion and accumulation of cysteinesulfinic acid in chronic dialysis patients. Kidney Int. 1996; 50: 1713–7.Google Scholar
37Reaven, PD, Witztum, JL. Oxidized low density lipoproteins in atherogenesis: role of dietary modification. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 1996; 16: 51–71.Google Scholar
38Gaby, SK, Machlin, LJ. Vitamin Intake and Health, A Scientific Review: Vitamin E. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1991.Google Scholar
39Curtis, HC, Roth, M. Clinical Biochemistry, Principles and Methods. Berlin/New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1974.Google Scholar