Anthropometrics, hemoglobin status and dietary micronutrient intake among Tanzanian and Mozambican pigeon pea farmers
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Date
2022-07-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nutrients
Abstract
Inadequate consumption of micronutrient-dense and protein-rich foods such as vegetables,
legumes and meat is an important contributing cause for anemia and deficiencies of vitamin A and
iron in rural communities of Tanzania and Mozambique. A cross-sectional study was conducted to
assess the nutritional status (anthropometrics and hemoglobin) and diets in particular micronutrient
intake of female and male pigeon pea farmers from Lindi, Tanzania, and Gurué, the Zambézia
province of Mozambique. A total of 1526 farmers (669 from Tanzania, 857 from Mozambique) were
studied, of whom 16% were overweight and 35% were anemic. The highest prevalence of overweight
and anemia, at 35% and 48%, was observed in Tanzanian and Mozambican women, respectively.
Overall, only a small proportion of women and men reached the recommended daily dietary intake of
vitamin A (10%), iron (51%) and zinc (44%). Multiple regression models revealed that dark green leafy
vegetables (DGLVs) highly predicted vitamin A intake, whereas legumes in Tanzania and starchy
plants in Mozambique were actually the dominant sources of vitamin A. Cereals covered over half
of the iron and the zinc intake in both countries. An increased consumption of micronutrient-rich
DGLVs and legumes, while reducing the high amounts of refined maize or polished rice, is suggested
to counteract the high prevalence of anemia and overweight among smallholder farmers in East and
South Eastern Africa.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Legumes, Dark green leafy vegetables, Tanzania, Mozambique, Anemia, Micronutrient intake, Micronutrient status, Overweight, Small-scale farmers
Citation
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14142914