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Risk of protein inadequacy among young children from rural, low‐income populations of Uganda, Kenya and Bangladesh
Author(s) -
Suri Devika,
Urbanek Joanna,
Ghosh Shibani
Publication year - 2012
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.26.1_supplement.631.3
Subject(s) - calorie , protein quality , staple food , environmental health , population , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , geography , biology , demography , agriculture , food science , archaeology , sociology , endocrinology
Background Previous work found >30% risk of protein inadequacy in Sub‐Saharan African and South Asian populations dependent on starchy staple crops. This has not been evaluated at an individual level. This study examined the risk of protein inadequacy in young children in Uganda, Kenya and Bangladesh. Methods Secondary dietary data was obtained for children age 2–6 from low‐income, rural populations. Mean intakes of “utilizable” protein (adjusted for quality, digestibility using PDCAAS) and % calories from starchy staples (cassava/rice) were calculated. Risk of protein inadequacy (percent of population below protein EAR) was calculated using WHO protein requirements and methodology. Results On average 48% of calories were from cassava and rice in Uganda, 53% cassava in Kenya and 62% rice in Bangladesh. Mean utilizable protein intakes were 31.5 ± 21.4, 12.9 ± 10.9g, 15.6 ± 6.7, and mean PDCAAS scores were 0.70 ± 0.19, 0.58 ± 0.2, 0.72 ± 0.11, respectively. Risk of protein inadequacy was 31% in Uganda, 34% in Kenya, 56% in Bangladesh. Conclusion Risk of protein inadequacy was >30% in children in the three countries. As dietary protein quality was low, it was important to calculate risk of protein inadequacy using “utilizable” not total protein. These findings 1) support the risk of protein inadequacy calculated using national data and 2) underscore the need to evaluate protein and its quality in at‐risk populations.