Premium
Potential impact of zinc‐biofortified rice on zinc intakes of young Bangladeshi children
Author(s) -
Arsenault Joanne E,
Yakes Elizabeth A,
Lewis Bess,
Islam M Muniril,
Hossain Bakhtiar,
Ahmed Tahmeed,
Hotz Christine,
Brown Kenneth H
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.334.4
Subject(s) - zinc , biofortification , zoology , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , medicine , micronutrient , dietary reference intake , food science , chemistry , biology , nutrient , ecology , organic chemistry , pathology
Background Young children in Bangladesh are at risk of zinc deficiency due to a rice‐based diet with few animal‐source foods. Breeding rice for higher zinc content would offer a sustainable approach to increase zinc intakes. Objectives To quantify usual rice and zinc intakes in young children and estimate the potential impact of zinc‐biofortified rice on zinc intakes. Methods We measured dietary intake in a representative sample of 480 children ages 24–48 mo in rural communities from two districts, Trishal (T) and Pirgaccha (P). Food intakes were estimated by weighed records in homes on 2 non‐consecutive days. Serum zinc concentrations were determined in a sub‐sample of children. Results Median (25 th , 75 th pct) rice intakes of children were 144 (110, 179) g/d in T and 123 (88, 164) g/d in P; and median zinc intakes were 2.4 (2.0, 2.9) mg/d in T and 2.5 (2.1, 3.0) mg/d in P. 27% and 19% of children had inadequate zinc intakes (<2 mg/d) in T and P, respectively. 36% and 11% of children in T and P, respectively, had low serum zinc concentrations (<65 μg/dL) after adjusting for infection status. Rice was the highest source of zinc intakes, providing 59% and 41% of dietary zinc in T and P, respectively. If the rice zinc content were increased by 50% or 100%, the probability of inadequate zinc intakes would decrease to 8% or 3–4%, respectively. Conclusions Young children in rural Bangladesh have inadequate intakes of zinc, and zinc‐biofortification of rice has potential to markedly improve the zinc adequacy of the children's diets. Funding: HarvestPlus, Washington, DC