Diversity and nutritional value of foods consumed by rural children in two agro-ecological zones of Benin

Abstract

Food diversification is recognized as an approach to reduce nutrient deficiencies among the population. Samples of food commonly consumed by the children in two agro ecological zones (Coastal Savannah Zone in the South (CSZ) and Sudan Savannah Zone in the North (SSZ)) of Benin were collected for energy, protein, fat, iron, zinc and vitamin A contents determination. Energy content ranged from 76 to 82 kcal/100 g (wet basis) in the cereal paste collected in the CSZ and from 60 to 105 kcal/100 g in the SSZ. In the samples sauces from CSZ, energy ranged between 49 and 189 kcal/100 g; and protein from 1.9 to 5.6 g/100 g; Iron and zinc contents ranged between 1.8 - 5.0 and 0.2 - 1.1 mg/100 g respectively while vitamin A content from 428 to 6394 µg RE/100 g. Samples sauces gave 39.0 - 84.1 kcal/100 g of energy; 1.5 - 4.3 g of protein; 1.6 - 5.6 mg of iron; 0.08 - 0.8 mg of zinc and 44.8 - 3805 µg RE of vitamin A in the SSZ. The same zone showed high food variability with 12 types of foods versus 5 for CSZ. However, high prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition is observed among the children in the SSZ. Then, the food variability is not a sufficient factor to improve the nutritional status of the children